A small Missouri city on the northwest border of St. Louis may soon be looking for a new mayor.
Michael Cornell, Jr., 39, was arrested during a traffic stop on Thursday, January 15, in the city of Riverview, which boasts a population of about 2,300 people. The arrest followed raids executed at his home and his mayoral office, prosecutors confirmed during a news conference.
Cornell is being held on a $1 million cash bond, Us Weekly confirmed. He stands accused of sexually abusing four people over the course of the last decade, resulting in four counts 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 pornography.
St. Louis County Police alleged that Cornell used the power of his position as Riverview’s mayor to entice some of the victims.
“When we abuse a position of authority, it ruins the trust that the public has placed in us,” St. Louis County Police Lt. Colonel Jerry Lohr told reporters Thursday. “I think he portrayed himself as an individual who had power, who had prestige, and I think he used that to entice some of his victims. … It is disturbing and unfortunate that once again, we will have to rebuild that trust in the people we serve.”
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Court documents shared with Us Weekly failed to identify Cornell’s attorney. Us Weekly was unable to get a Riverview official to comment on the arrest late Thursday.
In those court documents, Cornell is alleged to have sexually assaulted a victim under the age of 17. He is also accused of forcing two other victims into sex acts and of making multiple unwanted sexual advances while interacting with a fourth victim. Police say he also possessed child sexual assault material but did not say if it was found at his home or office.
Lohr only told reporters that all of the victims were acquaintances of Cornell.
Two former Riverview employees have sued Cornell as well as the city, alleging they were fired for refusing the mayor’s sexual advances. Lohr hinted there may be some overlap between those who’ve filed civil suits and the victims in the criminal case.
Prosecutors said they do believe there may be more victims and are asking them to come forward as soon as possible at (314) 615-5400.
“We want you to know that there is no shame in the crimes that were perpetrated against you,” said Assistant Prosecuting Attorney Portia Britt at the press conference. “The only person that should feel shame in this situation is Mr. Cornell.”
Cornell has been Riverview’s mayor since 2024 after serving on the board of trustees for the prior two years. Before venturing into politics, his official bio said he was an active member of the local chapter of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People. It further claimed Cornell “has been a community advocate from childhood to adulthood and is considered a genuine leader of his generation.”
Cornell is said to have “unmatched knowledge, courage, and strength” which helped him break barriers and shatter ceilings. “He’s a professional in every aspect and strives to improve the best by being optimistic, confident, and focused on his goals or tasks,” continued the bio.
