The mayor of Riverview, Missouri, has been arrested on multiple sexual assault charges spanning nearly a decade, shaking the small north St. Louis County city.
Michael Cornell Jr., 39, was taken into custody during a traffic stop Thursday in Riverview and is being held on a $1 million cash-only bond.
Authorities allege the mayor used his position of power to exploit and assault multiple victims, including a minor.
According to court filings, Cornell faces nine felony counts, including four charges of second-degree statutory sodomy, three counts of first-degree sodomy or attempted sodomy, one count of first-degree harassment and one count of possession of child sexual assault material.
Prosecutors said incidents date back to 2016, and police believe there could be additional victims, Fox 2 NOW reports.
Lt. Col. Jerry Lohr of the St. Louis County Police Department said Cornell leveraged his political authority to entice victims.
“When we abuse a position of authority, it ruins the trust that the public has placed in us,” Lohr said. “I think he portrayed himself as a person with power and prestige, and I think he used that to entice some of his victims.”
Some allegations also stem from Cornell’s time in office. He was first elected as a trustee in 2022 and became mayor in April 2024, according to STLPR.
Two former city employees have filed lawsuits claiming they were fired after rejecting the mayor’s sexual advances.
Prosecutors have encouraged any other potential victims to come forward.
“We want you to know there is no shame in the crimes that were perpetrated against you,” said Assistant Prosecuting Attorney Portia Britt. “The only person that should feel shame in this situation is Mr. Cornell.”
Victims’ accounts indicate repeated physical, verbal and emotional abuse.
One new allegation involves a December 2025 incident in which Cornell allegedly forced a male victim to engage in sexual contact while he was unable to resist, resulting in injury.
Court documents also detail assaults on a minor under the age of 17, as well as other sexual advances that caused emotional distress.
Cornell’s arrest follows searches of his home and city hall earlier this month. Authorities have retrieved materials relevant to the investigation.
The mayor did not have an attorney listed in court documents, and city officials did not immediately respond to inquiries. Riverview Police described the charges as “disturbing” and stressed that no individual is above the law.
The arrest adds to a long history of controversy surrounding Cornell, who was previously convicted of impersonating a St. Louis police officer in 2017 and has faced multiple civil lawsuits alleging misconduct and abuse of office, according to the STL Post-Dispatch.
City employees and former officials have accused him of retaliating against critics, mismanaging city resources and fostering a hostile work environment.
Prosecutors continue to urge anyone with information or who believes they may have been victimized to contact the St. Louis County Police Bureau of Crime Against Persons at 314-615-5400.
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