© 2024 University of Missouri - KBIA
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

Councilman Ian Thomas Facing Criminal Charges for Deal With Developers

Meiying Wu / KBIA

Fourth Ward Councilman Ian Thomas has been charged with a misdemeanor after negotiating a quid pro quo with two developers last year, Cole County Prosecutor Locke Thompson confirmed Thursday.

Thomas was charged with attempting to commit an act prohibited by a public official for offering to lend his support to a development project if the developers supported affordable housing. 

The councilman broke the news himself, emailing constituents Thursday morning to inform them of the charges. In the email, he said he intends to plead not guilty mount a defense in court. The charge against Thomas is a class C misdemeanor, "the lowest level misdemeanor offense under Missouri law," the councilman's lawyer, Christopher Slusher, noted in a press release. 

To read more on this story, visit our partners at the Columbia Missourian.