Arizona Office of the Attorney General

CASINOS CHECKED OUT BABBITTHIS DENIALS OF GAMBLING DON'T FIT RECORD

ABUSE OF PROCESSA JUDGE THROWS OUT ELDERLY ABUSE CHARGES, SLAPPING DOWN THE AG'S OFFICE FOR A "DRASTIC MISTAKE"

FLASHES

Friend of the Court?

Assistant AG Shawn Friend works for the state--and the deadbeat dad it's after

Letters

From the week of March 22, 2001

From the Rumor Mill: Maricopa County Attorney Andrew Thomas to Resign

As rumors go -- and this one comes to us from sources inside the Maricopa County Attorney's Office -- it's a doozy. Yet it's not implausible. We're hearing that ambitious County Attorney Andrew Thomas (seen here canoodling with an elderly supporter) is thinking about resigning from office in th ... More >>

Grant Woods, the Internet Jay Leno?

from www.grantwoods.com Don't quit that day job just yet, Grant. You know, power-brokerin' 'n' stuff... I don't think Carson Daly or Jay Leno'll be breaking a sweat over this one any time soon, but I just got a little promo e-mail in my in-box announcing the launch of ex-Arizona Attorney Gene ... More >>

Janet Napolitano’s Sorry Service in Arizona Makes Her a Terrible Choice for Homeland Security Secretary

from www.grantwoods.com Don't quit that day job just yet, Grant. You know, power-brokerin' 'n' stuff... I don't think Carson Daly or Jay Leno'll be breaking a sweat over this one any time soon, but I just got a little promo e-mail in my in-box announcing the launch of ex-Arizona Attorney Gene ... More >>

Roadkill

Now the Arizona Department of Transportation is being attacked on affirmative action

The New Boss

Police have shut down most of the meth labs in Phoenix, but now the drug is a big import from Mexico -- cheap, pure and more plentiful than ever

Accountants Down

State files more charges against Arthur Andersen in BFA scandal

Polygamists Probed

The Utah AG's office vows aggressive prosecution of fundamentalist Mormons who "marry" young girls

Polygamy in Arizona: The Wages of Sin

Arizona polygamist leaders are using public funds to support religious schools and line their own pockets. The state's done nothing to stop them.

Bound by Fear: Polygamy in Arizona

For decades the state has let a feudal colony of fundamentalist Mormons force underage girls into illegal polygamous marriages

From Ecstasy to Agony

Owner of Tucson-based Safari Media Inc. indicted

Power Trip

Plant near Kingman may be a foreboding sign for the rest of the state

False Witness

Rob Carey lied even when truth would have served

Herbs of Love

Pills made from a Peruvian vine known as Cat's Claw are all the rage among Latino health buffs

Arizona Attorney General Terry Goddard Goes After Captain Joel Fox and the SCA Money

Pills made from a Peruvian vine known as Cat's Claw are all the rage among Latino health buffs

Dennis Burke Confirmed as U.S. Attorney in Arizona

​ Dennis Burke, one of former Governor Janet Napolitano's chiefs-of-staff, has been confirmed as the next U.S. Attorney in Arizona. Burke's ultra-qualified for the job. He's a graduate of Georgetown University and University of Arizona, worked as counsel under former Arizona Senator Dennis D ... More >>

Wal-Mart Employee Who Called Cops Over Naked Baby Photos Claims Photos Went "Beyond Normal"

​The Peoria Police Department released audio files today of a conversation between officers and the Wal-Mart employee who discovered the naked baby photos that made national headlines last month.

Felecia Rotellini First Candidate to Announce Officially for Attorney General Race

Felecia Rotellini is running for Arizona Attorney General.​Former Assistant Attorney General Felecia Rotellini became the first candidate for Arizona AG to officially throw her hat into the ring today -- announcing that she's converting her "exploratory" committee to a "campaign" committee a ... More >>

Michael Manning Won't Run for AZ Attorney General, After All

courtesy of CNN Attorney Michael C. Manning​Michael Manning, the lawyer who's made a mint suing Sheriff Joe Arpaio and other local miscreants, has decided not to run for Arizona Attorney General, after all.Turns out too many people are dependent on Manning's rainmaking skills for him to lea ... More >>

Sheriff Joe Arpaio, Anti-Immigration Martyr, Raised $1.2 Million in '09. Despite What He Claims, He Doesn't Need the Money

Sheriff Joe's campaign is flush with cash. So tell your granny to stop sending him money already...​Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio's popularity may be plummeting in Maricopa County -- but he's still the politician of choice for donors across the country.In fact, Arpaio's most recent camp ... More >>

Russell Pearce's Police State Bill on the Today's COW Calendar, Will Sanity Prevail in Sand Land?

Do you want to live in Russell Pearce's police state?Will we live in state Senator Russell Pearce's dream police state, or will we live in the United States of America?That's the issue at hand this afternoon as Pearce's SB 1070/HB 2632 goes to the House Committee of the Whole for debate. The bi ... More >>

George Iknadosian, Accused of Supplying Mexican Cartels With Guns, Sues Arizona, City of Phoenix and Terry Goddard

A Phoenix firearms dealer once accused of supplying ruthless Mexican drug cartels with guns is suing the state, city of Phoenix and Arizona Attorney General Terry Goddard for malicious prosecution. Last spring, state and federal authorities thought they had nailed George Iknadosian, (right), o ... More >>

Andy Thomas' Go-To-Gal Lisa "The Loser" Aubuchon Heckled by County Workers Today

By now, everyone who reads this blog surely knows that Maricopa County Attorney Andy Thomas is resigning next week to run for Arizona Attorney General.   ​The news was greeted in downtown Phoenix with a mixture of surprise (many were starting to wonder if Thomas would pull the ... More >>

Maricopa County Board of Supervisors has No Conflict in County Attorney Replacement Pick, Supes Say

Good to go: County Supervisors decide they have no conflict in deciding who will replace former County Attorney Andrew Thomas.​ We thought it was possible the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors had a conflict of interest in picking a new county attorney, with two of the five having be ... More >>

Supreme Court Won't Stop Clean Elections Matching Funds in Arizona -- at Least, Not Now

Justice Kennedy won't block distribution of matching funds.​U.S. Supreme Court Justice Anthony Kennedy has refused requests from the Goldwater Institute to intervene in Arizona's Clean Elections system -- meaning that Clean Elections will begin to issue matching funds later this month.After a fede ... More >>

Tom Tancredo Flip-Flops on Support for Tom Horne's AG Bid; Former Congressman Now Supports Andrew Thomas

Image: WikipediaTom Tancredo supports Tom Horne, or maybe Andrew Thomas, for Arizona Attorney General. ​ Former Colorado Congressman Tom Tancredo pulled his endorsement of Tom Horne for Arizona Attorney General today, saying he now supports Andrew Thomas. The anti-illegal-immigrant (or just an ... More >>

August 23 In Blogs: John Dougherty, Just Blaze, Wyclef Jean, Burger King, and Andrew Thomas

​​​In the 24-hour news cycle, it can be difficult to keep up. We have the solution. Check back on Valley Fever every evening for highlights from each of New Times' blogs. Today's entries:

Patrick Chorpenning, Former Arizona Veterans Services Director, Pleads Guilty to Corruption-Related Charges; Must Pay Back $451,351

Image: Arizona Attorney General's officePatrick Chorpenning ran the state Veteran's Service department like his own personal bank and work program for family members.​ Patrick Chorpenning, the former director of the Arizona Department of Veterans' Services, pleaded guilty today to two corrupti ... More >>

Nogales Mayor Arrested at City Hall; Indicted on Bribery, Theft, Fraud, and Money Laundering Charges

Arizona Attorney General's OfficeNogales Mayor Octavio Garcia Von Borstel was arrested at the Nogales City Hall this morning.​The 29-year-old mayor of Nogales, and his 59-year-old father, were arrested this morning on multiple charges including bribery, theft, fraud and money laundering.Mayor Octa ... More >>

Nogales Mayor Back to Work Despite Fraud and Money Laundering Charges

Arizona Attorney General's OfficeNogales Mayor Octavio Garcia Von Borstel.​At most places of employment, someone charged with defrauding their employer would get fired -- or at least placed on leave until the whole thing was sorted out. Not if you work for the City of Nogales, where the boss -- in ... More >>

Indicted Nogales Mayor Doesn't Want AG's Office Releasing Information to Media

Nogales Mayor Octavio Garcia Von Borstel.​Nogales Mayor Octavio Garcia Von Borstel, having already been indicted on bribery and other corruption charges, isn't too happy with the Arizona Attorney General's Office right now.Von Borstel's attorneys want the AG's Office to stop releasing information ... More >>

That Andy Thomas Won't Win Election Today is Reason to Rejoice

It's depressing out there, no doubt. ​ President Barack Obama's "honeymoon" never happened, partly his fault, partly not. The collective memory of the "American public" is about as long as that of a rather slow 2-year-old. Joe F-ing Arpaio, a paragon of everything that can be bad about l ... More >>

Bill Montgomery Leads Herd of Prosecutors to Orpheum--Promises Good Things Ahead

Quite a sight yesterday afternoon in downtown Phoenix.   ​The entire workforce of the Maricopa County Attorney's Office--it numbers in the hundreds--took to the streets (Jefferson, to be exact) as one, and trooped north a block or two to the Orpheum Theatre for a big meeting, It w ... More >>

Claudia Washburn, Mother of Escapee John McCluskey Pleads Guilty

  Image: Arizona Attorney General's Office Claudia Washburn​Claudia Washburn will serve between six months and two-and-a-half years in prison for providing money to her infamous escapee son, John McCluskey. The sentencing range is part of the plea deal the Payson resident accepte ... More >>

Gabrielle Giffords Investigation Gets Offer of Help from Tom Horne, New State Attorney General

Tom Horne, the new Arizona Attorney General, says his office will do whatever it can to help in the shooting investigation of Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords.​

Arizona Attorney General Tom Horne Throws AG's Office into Crusade Against Obama-Care

James KingAttorney General Tom Horne has a few problems with President Obama's health care plan.​Newly sworn in Arizona Attorney General Tom Horne announced today that he's planning to do something his predecessor, Terry Goddard, refused to do: throw the Arizona Attorney General's Office into the ... More >>

Innocence Project Co-Founder To Give Talk At ASU On Forensic Science Reform, Wrongful Convictions

CNNInnocence Project co-founder Barry Scheck.​Co-founder of the Innocence Project Barry Scheck is coming to ASU tomorrow for a talk about the project's work and forensic science reform in the justice system, an emerging topic in Arizona. Scheck's seminar is scheduled to go from 5 to 6:30 at t ... More >>

Scottsdale Mortgage-Relief Firm Hit with $29 Million Judgment in Loan-Modification Scam

bustathief.com​Bryan Prehoda and Luis Belevan were running a pretty unsuccessful Scottsdale-based mortgage-relief service -- so unsuccessful, in fact, as to constitute fraud and a judgment against them for almost $29 million.   A Maricopa County Superior Court judge entered the de ... More >>

Ethnic Studies Revolt: Students Take Over TUSD Governing Board Meeting

Courtesy of the Three Sonorans, the revolution is YouTube-izedHow often have you seen students protest and commit acts of civil disobedience because they want to study something?While their peers in the rest of the country may be looking to cut class, Tucson's students are battling to maintain ethni ... More >>

Arizona Medical Marijuana Program in Trouble: Brewer Halts Dispensary Permits Will Seeking Federal Ruling on Legality -- **Update With Gov's Statement

​ Arizona leaders are preparing to ask to the feds to put a halt to Arizona's medical marijuana program. * UPDATE: Arizona Attorney General Tom Horne says no dispensary permits will be issued until a federal court rules on the legality of the program. He's not sure how long that will take. * ... More >>

How to Avoid a Weinergate; Some Suggestions From the Mayor of Twitter-Town/Former AG Grant Woods

www.yahoo.comPoliticos: Listen to Grant Woods if you want to avoid headlines like these.​As "Weinergate 2011" enters day 11, there are now bipartisan calls for New York Congressman Anthony Weiner to resign. Given the congressman's current conundrum, former Arizona Attorney General/New Times-declar ... More >>

Authorities Go Gangbusters in South Phoenix; Dozens Arrested, Drugs Seized

www.mrgangbusters.com​A massive gang/drug bust called "Operation OGSTYLE" went down in south Phoenix this morning, resulting in the arrests of dozens of gang members, the Phoenix Police Department announced today."Operation OGSTYLE" was headed by the Phoenix P.D. but included law enforcement agent ... More >>

The Spoils of "Operation OGSTYLE" Gang Shakeup: Guns, Cocaine, Cash, and Cars

​Following yesterday's gang shakeup in south Phoenix, authorities are now well-equipped to make one hell of a rap video -- they seized cocaine, dozens of fancy cars, and enough cash to make it rain for days.The Phoenix Police Department, as well as several other law enforcement agencies, carried o ... More >>

Authorities: Mexican Drug Cartel Suffers "Death Blow;" Billion-Dollar Trafficking Ring Busted Up by Law Enforcement Agencies

ICE​Federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies claim to have delivered a "death blow" to a Mexican drug trafficking ring that was running $33 million worth of drugs through Arizona every month.Authorities announced this morning the results of "Operation Pipeline Express," a 17-month invest ... More >>

El Mirage Responds to AG's Investigation of Allegations Officials Used City Resources To Win November Bond Election

​The Arizona Attorney General continues its inquiry into El Mirage and allegations that city officials used city resources to influence the outcome of an $8.5 million bond election on November 8.The bond passed with a mere three-vote margin.El Mirage provided some rather interesting responses to q ... More >>

David Lujan, George Diaz, and the Stop-Lujan Movement

Lujan calls his 1070 no-show "one of the biggest regrets of my elective career"Is the fix in for former state House Minority Leader David Lujan's becoming the replacement for ex-state Senator Kyrsten Sinema, who recently announced her bid for U.S. Congress?Or will his infamous no-show for the Senate ... More >>