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We are not the only media outlet whose right to public records has been abused by Thomas and Arpaio. In fact, Stern went to Iafrate's office seeking documents related to the sheriff's handling of public records with all the news media.

Stern persisted, even after he was evicted. He got the records and wrote a story about Arpaio's abuse of Arizona's public records statute and the sheriff's cynical manipulation of the state's news media ("The Right to Know," December 13, 2007).

With his appearance in court on Wednesday, Stern's fight against the criminal complaint is closing in on one year.

He continues to file requests for public records in the sheriff's possession.

In June, Stern asked for a list of citizens who were said by Arpaio to have donated money to help finance his immigration roundups.

Stern was allowed to view the documents, but he was not allowed to take notes. Later, he paid for copies of the donations, but all the identifying data regarding the contributions was blocked out.

In other words, Arpaio does not want the public to know who is paying to round up, arrest, and deport illegal immigrants.

Stern asked Captain Paul Chagolla, another of the sheriff's public information officers, why Arpaio publicized the name, address, and phone number of a mayor's aide who claimed she was the victim of racial profiling but kept secret the names of public donors who financed these sweeps?

When contacted for this article, Captain Chagolla advised that we should consult our own attorney on the law . . . "I cannot comment any further."

According to Stern, Captain Chagolla responded, "These people are deserving of privacy."

That remains to be seen.

The bigger picture, however, is quite clear.

Sheriff Joe Arpaio, with the assistance of County Attorney Andrew Thomas, has pioneered a strategy to subvert Arizona's public records law: stall, litigate, arrest, and prosecute.

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