Former assistant prosecutor pleads to concealing assault

ST. LOUIS -- A former St. Louis assistant prosecutor has admitted in federal court she concealed a police officer's assault on a handcuffed suspect that included beating the man and putting a pistol down his throat.

Bliss Barber Worrell, 28, of Clayton pleaded guilty Monday to misprision of a felony, or aiding someone in covering up a crime. Worrell, an assistant St. Louis circuit attorney in the misdemeanor division from August 2013 to July 2014, admitted she didn't tell authorities what she knew about the officer's 2014 assault on the man in custody.

The charge carries a possible penalty of up to three years in prison, although prosecutors and Worrell's attorney agreed to recommend a year and a half on probation.

Federal prosecutors say Worrell developed a close friendship with the veteran St. Louis police officer, who is not identified in court documents. In July of last year, that officer told Worrell a man identified in court documents only as "M.W." was arrested for possessing the credit card belonging to the officer's daughter.

The next day, prosecutors say, that officer told Worrell he had thrown the suspect against a wall, assaulted him, threw a chair at him and "shoved (his) pistol down the guy's throat."

Worrell later consulted with the arresting officer, who confirmed the suspect was found with stolen credit cards and had resisted arrest and tried to flee.

Worrell admitted she filed charges against the suspect without disclosing knowledge of the assault to her colleagues, supervisors or the judge assigned to set bond. She also learned the attempted escape never happened, but she still allowed that charge to stand.

The Justice Department says Worrell -- the daughter-in-law of former St. Louis Cardinals pitcher Todd Worrell -- has agreed to cooperate with the investigation.

U.S. District Judge Henry Autrey told the court Worrell's actions were "most distasteful" and she left "a black mark on a very venerable office," the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reported.

Worrell was asked to resign and left the circuit attorney's office more than a year ago, according to the newspaper.