Welcome to Arrest Stories. A thirty-nine-year-old Missouri mayor faces multiple sex crime charges including the assault of a minor after police discovered disturbing evidence during their investigation. Here's what may have happened.
Michael Cornell Jr., the mayor of Riverview, was arrested on January fifteenth and charged with multiple felony sex crimes by the St. Louis County Prosecuting Attorney's Office. Cornell is accused of committing forcible sex acts on at least three victims, including a minor, with the alleged crimes spanning a ten-year period.
According to police reports, Cornell used his position as mayor to entice some of the victims. The investigation revealed that Cornell allegedly engaged in sex acts on multiple occasions with a victim who was under seventeen years old. Police also found child sexual abuse material on Cornell's phone, including video dated between December first, two thousand twenty-five and January second, two thousand twenty-six, depicting two juvenile males engaged in a sex act.
St. Louis County Police detectives executed a search warrant at Cornell's home on Leeton Avenue on Friday afternoon, accompanied by a K-nine unit. The St. Louis County Crime Scene Unit and several unmarked vehicles remained at the residence into the evening, with officers observed entering the home and exiting with unknown materials. Cornell was subsequently arrested during a traffic stop.
The investigation began after the department was made aware of allegations from another local agency, though officials would not identify the source. Police believe there could be additional victims due to the nature of the alleged crimes.
Cornell has been held on a one million dollar cash bond. The Riverview Police Department commander stated that the charges are deeply disturbing and emphasized their full cooperation with the St. Louis County Police Department investigation.
The arrest comes amid ongoing legal troubles for both Cornell and the city of Riverview, with at least seven lawsuits filed against the city, the mayor, or both in the past two years.
All suspects presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. Do not take this report as factual, always verify facts. Thanks for watching Arrest Stories.