–The former Police Chief in Armstrong changed his plea this week, just before he was scheduled to stand trial on multiple charges related to a corruption investigation involving other city officials.
Craig Merrill entered what’s called an Alford Plea this week before his trial was scheduled to begin in Clay County. An Alford plea does not admit guilt but is an indication a jury would likely have had enough evidence to convict.
Online court records show that Merrill plead guilty assault involving a police taser. By pleading guilty, charges of misconduct in office, ongoing criminal conduct and 1st degree theft were dismissed.
Merrill was originally arrested back in 2021 along with the mayor and a couple of city clerks following an investigation into several irregularities. He is scheduled to be sentenced on September 17th.
