Crime and Law

State Representative David Burnell Smith Hit With DUI, Pulls a "Do You Know Who I Am?"

Driving under the influence: not very funny. Republican state Representative David Burnell Smith's arrest for alleged DUI: hilarious.Smith pulled the alleged DUI trifecta in his encounter with Scottsdale police: as an attorney who claims he "fights for those who have been arrested and/or charged wit ... More >>

American Banks Are on a Massive Crime Spree; Obama and Romney Hope You Won't Notice

Phoenix Woman's Husband Allegedly Stabbed Her to Death in Front of Her Five Children

A suspected illegal immigrant who was just recently released on bond from Immigration and Customs Enforcement custody was arrested yesterday in the fatal stabbing of his wife.Maria Gonzalez was stabbed to death on Friday, although her husband, Salvador Garcia-Sanchez, was just arrested yesterday sin ... More >>

Bill Montgomery Says Pima County Attorney is Stealing His Time in Abortion Hearing at Ninth Circuit Court

Testy, testy! "I think there's a 'Deputy' in front of your title," Maricopa County Attorney Bill Montgomery tells one of the Pima County Attorney's underlings in an October 31 e-mail. Montgomery makes the smarty-pants comment in a series of recent, heated e-mails released today in court records fr ... More >>

Louis Harper Pleads Guilty in 2010 Murder of ASU Student Zachary Marco

Both men charged in the 2010 murder of Arizona State University student Zachary Marco have now pleaded guilty, after Louis Eugene Harper pleaded guilty today to first-degree murder and armed robbery.Marco was 21 years old when he was gunned down after refusing to give up his belongings in a robbery ... More >>

Scottsdale Police Department Has Quite a Shooting Problem, ACLU Alleges

Scottsdale police officers have had quite a few shootings in recent history that have been determined by the department to be justified.That -- along with Officer James Peters' involvement in a sixth fatal shooting -- is why representatives of the American Civil Liberties Union of Arizona announced ... More >>

Glendale Elementary School Accused of Keeping Boy in Windowless Room and Giving Him Sugar; Parents Say Kid's Allergic to Sugar

A Glendale couple is suing the Deer Valley Unified School District, claiming staff at the boy's elementary school fed him sugar, and often kept him in a small, windowless room due to his behavior.The boy's parents contend that the school kept giving their boy sugar -- which the boy is "severely alle ... More >>

Mark Matheny, White Supremacist, Allegedly Stabbed His Wife Because She Left Him for "Another Worthless Tweeker"

See also: Mark Matheny Accused of Failing to Kill His Wife and HimselfMark Matheny -- the alleged white supremacist who barricaded himself inside his house near Queen Creek on Tuesday -- didn't make it incredibly difficult for investigators to find out his motive for allegedly stabbing his wife last ... More >>

Suspect in Rogue Bar Stabbings Surrenders Himself to Scottsdale Police

See also: Stabbing at Scottsdale's Rogue Bar After Argument Leaves Two InjuredThe man accused of stabbing two people at the Rogue Bar this past weekend has been arrested by Scottsdale Police Department. According to a department report, Adam Logan Graham, a 36-year-old resident of Tempe, was taken ... More >>

Shapiro/Gaudet Murders: County Attorney to Seek Death Penalty for Michael Crane

See also: Shapiro/Gaudet Murders: Slightly Less Redacted Police Reports ReleasedSee also: Michael Crane "Refused" to Go to Court TodaySee also: See also: Michael Crane Indicted in Murders of P.V. Couple and Bruce GaudetSee also: P.V. Murders: Heavily Redacted Arrest Report ReleasedThe Maricopa Count ... More >>

"Pastor" Michael Salman Indicted for AHCCCS Fraud, Faces Multiple Felony Charges

See also: Michael Salman wants to build a church in his backyard See also: Michael Salman is not in jail for having Bible studies in his home See also: Michael Salman claims his "right to hold Bible studies in jail" was violated See also: Joe Arpaio and Michael Salman keep inmates bored to death at ... More >>

Justice Department Monitoring Election in Maricopa County to Keep the Racists at Bay

The Justice Department is stopping by Maricopa County during tomorrow's elections just to make sure no one's being racist to an illegal degree.The agency announced this morning that it's sending federal observers to three cities in Alabama, as well as Maricopa County to make sure everyone's complyin ... More >>

Miriam Hayenga, Phoenix Developer, Suing Prominent Zoning Attorney Paul Gilbert Over What She Says Is Botched Legal Work

See also: Miriam Hayenga Proves You Can Fight City Hall, After All See also: Don't Even Think About Fighting City Hall Unless You're a Good Old Boy A few years ago, we told you about Miriam Hayenga and her quest for justice over what she says was bungled legal work from prominent zoning attorney Pa ... More >>

Hells Angels Sue Janet Napolitano and Hillary Clinton Over Ban on Members Entering U.S.

The Hells Angels Motorcycle Club has filed a lawsuit against several federal agency heads, claiming the group's foreign members have been wrongfully banned from entering the United States.Homeland Security Janet Napolitano, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, and U.S. Citizen and Immigration Service ... More >>

Ken Bennett's Family Business Accused by Employee of Wage Violations

An oil company owned by the family of Arizona Secretary of State Ken Bennett is being sued for alleged wage violations and retaliation against a former employee.Bennett's Oil Company -- of which the Secretary of State is the former CEO and a current director -- is being accused by a former cashier o ... More >>

Brian Bizzell, Ex-Teacher Caught Arranging "Quickie" With Student, Gets Jail Time

​Brian Bizzell -- a former band teacher at Estrella Foothills High School in Goodyear -- has earned himself the title of "sex offender" for life, and was sentenced to a year in jail for his sexual relationship with one of his students.Because the 17-year-old student lost her cell phone, another st ... More >>

Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals Agrees With Supreme Court Ruling on SB 1070

See also: The Supreme Court's 1070 Ruling Is No Win for Teabaggers See also:SB 1070: Supreme Court Upholds "Papers Please" Section, Invalidates Others See also: Opponents of Arizona's Anti-Immigrant Law Proclaim Fight is Not Over See also: SB 1070: 10 Memorable Moments in Law's History See also: SB ... More >>

Mexican Death Toll in Drug War Likely Higher Than Reported

Michael Salman: Committing Crimes, or Victim of Religious Persecution?

See also: Michael Salman Wants to Build a Church in His Backyard See also: Michael Salman Is Not in Jail for Having Bible Studies in His HomeSee also: Michael Salman Might Get More Jail TimeIt looks like people are still buying the religious-persecution story from pastor Michael Salman, who's curren ... More >>

Dale Hausner, One of Valley's Infamous "Serial Shooters," Apparently Wants To Die ASAP

See Also: Dale Hausner, One of Phoenix's Infamous "Serial Shooters" in 2005-06, To Remain On Death Row Dale Hausner, part of the "Serial Shooter" team that killed and maimed numerous Valley citizens (and animals) before their 2006 capture, wants to be executed as soon as possible. At least that' ... More >>

Arpaio Challenger Paul Penzone Comes Clean About a 2003 Altercation with Ex-Wife

Friends Rob Friends, Then Post Facebook Update of Whereabouts

A woman accused of burglary and kidnapping was arrested Sunday after one of her victims saw on a Facebook update that the suspect would be at a Phoenix restaurant. Brandi Lynn Rogers, 37, was arrested Sunday and charged with armed robbery, burglary and kidnapping. One of her accomplices led police ... More >>

Joe Arpaio Turns a Blind Eye to Jailhouse Justice

Lee Lubonne, Self-Described "Sex Pig," Pleads Not Guilty to Rape and Other Charges

Lee Charles Lubonne, the self-described "sex pig" charged in two sexual assaults, pleaded not guilty at his arraignment this morning.Judging from what sex-crime detectives found in his house, the Maricopa County Sheriff's Office is thought there was a "possibility" there may have be more victims, an ... More >>

Lee Lubonne, Self-Described "Sex Pig," Arrested in Two Sexual Assaults; Detectives Thinking There May Be More

The Maricopa County Sheriff's Office arrested Lee Charles Lubonne after two alleged sexual-assault suspects described his house, vehicle, and identified him from a photo lineup.Judging from what sex-crime detectives found in his house, the Sheriff's Office is thinking there's a "possibility" there m ... More >>

Justice Department Investigating Montana Agencies Over Allegedly Bungled Sex-Crime Cases, Draws Comparison to MCSO

The Justice Department announced yesterday that it's investigating allegations of sexual harassment and sexual assault around the Missoula, Montana area, including the University of Montana.According to the Justice Department, "This investigation will focus on allegations that [the Montana agencies] ... More >>

Gilbert Massacre: Police Continue to Investigate Killing Spree that Claimed Five, Including Toddler

Five people -- two men, two women, and a 2-year-old girl -- were killed in a shooting rampage in a quiet Gilbert neighborhood this afternoon. The shooter has been identified by sources as prominent neo-Nazi, and candidate for Pinal County Sheriff, J.T. Ready. Police had not identified the victims o ... More >>

Joe Arpaio: 4th Avenue Jail on Lockdown, Mexican Mafia "Attempting to Control" Jail

Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio has ordered a lockdown on parts of the 4th Avenue Jail, as the sheriff's office says the Mexican Mafia is "attempting to control" the jail."Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio ordered parts of the maximum security 4th Avenue Jail be placed on indefinite lockdown as ... More >>

Dan Wise, Former Scottsdale CPA, Arrested -- Again -- for Charges Related to Alleged $66 Million Ponzi Scheme

Dan Wise, a former Scottsdale accountant, was arrested yesterday for crimes related to allegedly running a $66 million Ponzi scheme, marking the fourth time he's been arrested in connection with the same scheme.Wise, 55, was indicted earlier in the week on 102 federal charges for the alleged scheme, ... More >>

ASU Student Kyle Levitt Shot Man Before Physical Fight, According to Court Records

Witnesses to the Tempe shooting death of 20-year-old Gabriel Batten earlier this week told police the alleged shooter, Kyle Levitt, shot Batten twice in the abdomen before any sort of physical altercation occurred, according to court documents obtained by New Times.Levitt, a 25-year-old student at A ... More >>

Mary Rose Wilcox, Barbara Mundell and Susan Schuerman Settlements Will Save Maricopa County Millions, County Says

Pending settlements to Maricopa County Supervisor Mary Rose Wilcox, retired Judge Barbara Mundell and county employee Susan Schuerman will reportedly save the county millions.The county says that, the settlements to Mundell and Schuerman (Supervisor Don Stapley's executive assistant) are now final, ... More >>

Tempe PD: Man Shot, Killed After Argument Over Playing Loud Music at Apartment Pool

A 20-year-old man was shot and killed this morning after an argument over loud music at a pool inside a Tempe apartment complex, police say.Two people are currently being held for questioning in the shooting death.Tempe Police Sergeant Jeffrey Glover tells New Times police got a call about a noise c ... More >>

Hells Angel Kevin Augustiniak Gets 23 Years Up the River for 2001 Slaying of Cynthia Garcia

​Kevin J. Augustiniak, one of the Hells Angels charged in the 2001 murder of Mesa resident Cynthia Garcia, was sentenced yesterday to 23.5 years in prison.Augustiniak pleaded guilty to second-degree murder in October, nearly eight years after his 2003 indictment.Sentencing for second-degree murd ... More >>

Is State Representative Daniel Patterson "Innocent" Now?

This past month hasn't been the greatest for Democratic state Representative Daniel Patterson.Nearly a month ago, Patterson became the subject of a House ethics complaint over claims of domestic violence from his ex-girlfriend, and pleaded not guilty to four misdemeanor charges related to domestic-v ... More >>

Poster Child For Capital Punishment Advocates James Wallace Leaves Death Row

James Granvil Wallace, a 62-year-old murderer from Tucson who has been on death row for more than a quarter-century, now will spend the rest of his life in prison after a highly controversial Arizona Supreme Court ruling. ​The court's unanimous reasoning for allowing Wallace to escape exec ... More >>

Daniel Patterson's Ex-Girlfriend Now Says Legislator "Should Be Found Innocent"

​Just short of a month after Democratic state Representative Daniel Patterson became the subject of a House ethics complaint over claims of domestic violence from his ex-girlfriend, the woman now says Patterson never did anything wrong.The ethics complaint came out on February 27, as every House D ... More >>

Judd Herberger Sentenced to Four Months in Prison for Felony DUI

​Judd Herberger, son of the late Valley philanthropists, was sentenced today to four months in state prison for a felony DUI he received last year in Scottsdale. The 70-year-old businessman had been driving drunk despite the fact that his driver's license had been revoked after his extreme DUI co ... More >>

Thirteen Years and a Hundred School Shootings Later, Why Is Hollywood Still Obsessed With This One?

Money Pit: Andy Thomas’ Death-Penalty-Laden Years as Maricopa County Attorney

Joe Arpaio's Most Recent Cockfighting Raid Complicates a Phoenix Murder Investigation

​On Saturday night, the Maricopa County Sheriff's Office raided a Phoenix cockfight, arresting 40 people -- 17 of them alleged to be illegal immigrants.One of those alleged illegal immigrants, 43-year-old Pedro Reyes-Lopez, was identified as the owner of the house, which earned him a big mugshot i ... More >>

Overzealous Prosecutors, a Runaway Jury, and a Dead 5-Year-Old

Congressional Candidate Wendy Rogers' House Vandalized; Campaign Cites Left-Wing Blog Commenters

​Republican Congressional candidate Wendy Rogers says her house was vandalized the day she announced her candidacy, and one of her campaign staffers thinks "the Left" might have something to do with it.An email from the Rogers campaign says her Tempe home was vandalized on Saturday night, about 12 ... More >>

Shooting at Nipsey Hussle Concert in Tempe Last Night Injures 13 People. Suspects Still at Large

​ Violence and panic erupted outside of the Clubhouse Music Venue in Tempe last night as a fight between concertgoers at the Nipsey Hussle show escalated into a shooting that wounded 13 people. According to multiple messages on Twitter and statements from Tempe Police Department officials to the ... More >>

Do Arizona's Executions Need to Be Carried Out in a "More Timely Manner"?

Robert Moorman, who sat on Arizona's death row for nearly three decades, was executed yesterday for chopping up his adoptive mother.Arizona Attorney General Tom Horne responded by saying there was "no rational reason" for it to take that long."We have been working hard to help reform a system in whi ... More >>

Robert Moorman Executed For Chopping Up His Adoptive Mother in 1984

​Robert Moorman, who sat on Arizona's death row for nearly three decades, was executed today at the state prison in Florence.Moorman, 63, was originally in prison for a kidnapping conviction out of Coconino County in 1972.During that prison stint, Moorman was granted a 72-hour "compassionate furlo ... More >>

Tom Horne: "There Is No Rational Reason" For Taking So Long to Execute Robert Moorman

​Attorney General Tom Horne acknowledges "[j]ustice was carried out" today against Brian Moorman, who was executed this morning for chopping up his adoptive mother.He's also wondering why exactly it took until 2012 to execute a guy who hacked up mom in 1984.As we've previously noted, Arizona spent ... More >>

Michael Crane, Shapiro/Gaudet Murder Suspect, Makes it To Court Without Causing A Scene

MCSOMichael Crane​Michael Crane -- who's facing first-degree murder charges for the deaths of Paradise Valley couple Glenna and Lawrence Shapiro, as well as Phoenix man Bruce Gaudet -- made it to his arraignment today without causing a scene.Crane was scheduled to be in court on Tuesday his arra ... More >>

Scottsdale Woman Allegedly Kidnapped By Ex-Boyfriend, Says She Had No Idea It Was Him

​A Scottsdale woman was kidnapped from her garage yesterday and driven to a bank, where she was told by her kidnapper to empty her account or he'd harm her and her mother. A bank teller tipped off the cops, who came and arrested their suspect -- 40-year-old Thanh Andrew Harlan.Scottsdale Officer D ... More >>

Michael Crane, Shapiro/Gaudet Murder Suspect, "Refused" to Go to Court Today

​Michael Crane -- who's facing first-degree murder charges for the deaths of Paradise Valley couple Glenna and Lawrence Shapiro, as well as Phoenix man Bruce Gaudet -- "refused" to be transported to his court date today, according to a Maricopa County Superior Court spokesman.Crane was scheduled t ... More >>

"Iraqi Culture" Mom Yusra Farhan Arrested Again, Along With Two Other Family Members

MCSOLeft to right: Tabarek Altameemi, Mohammed Altameemi, and Yusra Farhan.​Yusra Farhan, the woman who police say beat her daughter with a shoe and tied her to a bed because she was seeing a boy -- and cited "Iraqi culture" as the reason for it -- was arrested again yesterday.This time, her husba ... More >>