Apreliminary order to remove Ray County Prosecuting Attorney Camille Johnston from office has been filed as Missouri Attorney General Catherine Hanaway alleges misconduct, conflicts of interest and neglect of official duties.

Hanaway alleges Johnston engaged in three undisclosed romantic relationships that conflicted with her responsibilities as prosecutor, failed to seek disqualification from cases involving those relationships, assisted a sexual assault suspect in avoiding apprehension and created an atmosphere of fear and intimidation within the Ray County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office. In a petition for quo warranto filed July 16, the attorney general argues Johnston’s alleged conduct constitutes willful violations and neglect of her official duties and warrants her removal from office.

A preliminary order issued the same day by 43rd Circuit Court Judge Daren L. Adkins prohibits Johnston, pending further order of the court, from engaging in any activity or exercising any authority as…