Investigations

Douglas Earl Leach of Peoria to Serve Two-to-Four Years in Federal Prison for Child Porn

The feds are bringing another child-porn watcher to justice with the recent guilty plea of Arizona resident Douglas Earl Leach. When Leach's Peoria home was raided on September 5, 2012, following an FBI investigation, agents found nearly 4,000 child-porn pictures, mostly of young boys engaged in se ... More >>

Tucson Teacher's Aide Accused of Sexing Three Students at School, While Three Others Watched

The Tucson Police Department says a 22-year-old high school teacher's aide was involved in a sexual "incident" involving six male students.We'd love to tell you exactly what happened, but the cops were first to discover the video of the incident, filmed by one of the six students involved.

Paul Babeu, Pinal County Sheriff, Spokesman Elias Johnson Resigns, Faces Allegations of Unauthorized Participation in a U.S. Marshals Service Bust

Pinal County Sheriff's Office Public Information Officer Elias Johnson resigned Friday after an investigation into allegations that he, although not a sworn deputy, participated in a U.S. Marshals Service bust in his Gilbert neighborhood, according to the Casa Grande Dispatch. Johnson apparently vi ... More >>

Sheriff Paul Babeu's Spokesman, Elias Johnson, Under Investigation Over Allegations of "Serious Misconduct"

Elias Johnson, a public information officer for the Pinal County Sheriff's Office, was placed on paid administrative leave on Tuesday.

No Charges for Arpaio: U.S. Closes Criminal Investigation of Maricopa Sheriff and Former County Attorney Andrew Thomas

See also: Investigating Joe Arpaio The U.S. Attorney's Office announced today that it has closed its investigation into criminal conduct by Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio and former County Attorney Andrew Thomas with no charges against either man. The announcement came after 5 p.m. o ... More >>

David Schweikert Ads Accusing Ben Quayle of Involvement in Non-Existent FBI Investigation Take an Exit

See also: Ben Quayle Accused of Swimming, Which Is a Scandal or SomethingSee also: Ben Quayle Confirms He Was in the Israeli Lake to "Secure a Jar of Water"If you've heard that Congressman Ben Quayle was the subject of an FBI investigation, you probably heard that from his primary opponent, Congress ... More >>

Randy Parraz Wants Board of Supervisors to Ban Private Payments to MCSO

See Also: Joe Arpaio Denied Birther Donations, Randy Parraz Blasts Andy KunasekSee Also: Joe Arpaio's Birther Investigation Blasted by Randy ParrazActivist Randy Parraz demanded today that the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors start discussing a policy to stop all private funding into any crimina ... More >>

Joe Arpaio's "Birther" Madness Continues to Get Worse -- Sheriff May Testify in Florida

As has happened numerous times before, we wrote about another ridiculous aspect of Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio's "birther" investigation earlier in the day, and it's gotten more ridiculous just hours later.We told you just before noon about Arpaio submitting an affidavit to a Florida court to ... More >>

Rolling Stone Recaps the "Really Crazy Stuff" Going on in Arizona Politics

Rolling Stone did a wrap up about Arizona's "really crazy" political climate -- not that we needed a reminder. But, yeah, this is why the rest of the country is laughing at us. Bennett the Birther? Gould the Gunman? Kelly and his M-16s? Yee-ha! Read the Rolling Stone recap below:

Joe Arpaio Says Book Bashing His "Birther" Investigation is "All Wrong," Although He Didn't Quite Read it

The book co-authored by one of Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio's purported "special deputies"/ex-Sheriff's Posse member is "all wrong," according to the sheriff.Between "no comment" and "it's all wrong," Arpaio tells New Times that he didn't actually read the book apparently slamming his investig ... More >>

Joe Arpaio's "Birther" Investigation Slammed by Ex-Sheriff's Posse Member

We've previously mentioned some of the stranger aspects of Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio's "birther" investigation -- parts not related to Arpaio and company thinking President Obama's from Africa -- including tidbits of information that would lead a reasonable person to believe the "investigat ... More >>

Carl Seel's "Birther" Bill: Voter Protection or Conspiracy-Theory Nonsense?

Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio, state Representative Carl Seel, and others held a press conference yesterday at the capitol to pimp out Seel's House Bill 2480.Seel's bill is the watered-down, penis-free version of last year's "birther" bill, which forces presidential candidates to sign a sworn a ... More >>

Joe Arpaio and the "Birther" Gang Gather at the Capitol, Where Carl Seel Likened His "Birther" Bill to Women's Suffrage

Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio and the "birther" gang -- now including legislators -- held a press conference at the capitol today to push state Representative Carl Seel's "birther" bill.Seel's bill, as you may recall, is the watered-down, penis-free version of last year's bill, which  fo ... More >>

Breaking News: Clubhouse Music Venue Closes Down

​See also: Last Night's Town Hall Meeting on Clubhouse Music Venue Shooting Filled With Anger, Accusations, and Rhetoric We've received word this afternoon that the Clubhouse Music Venue was shut down earlier today. While no word of the concert hall's closure has been posted on its website or Fa ... More >>

Joe Arpaio's "Birther" Pals Profiting From Obama Birth Certificate "Investigation." Surprised?

For the low price of $9.99, you can obtain your own copy of an e-book that's billed as "a law enforcement investigation" into President Obama's birth certificate.The authors happen to be Maricopa County Sheriff's Office Cold Case Posse "lead investigator" Mike Zullo and notorious "birther" Jerome Co ... More >>

Arpaio Validates "Birthers" Fears; Inspires Us to Look at Other Famous Forgeries

Amid his own investigation by the feds, Sheriff Joe Arpaio held a press conference yesterday afternoon to discuss the preliminary findings of his "cold-case posse" that suggests President Barack Obama's birth certificate is in fact a forgery. Arpaio and lead investigator of the volunteer posse Mike ... More >>

Dave Hendershott Will Take the 5th in Joel Fox Job Appeal, Says Lawyer; Read Updates on Fox Hearing

​Dave Hendershott, the disgraced former chief deputy under Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio, will invoke his right against self-incrimination if asked to testify in the job appeal hearing for fired deputy Joel Fox.Barry Markson, Hendershott's lawyer, told Judge Robert Sparks in the appeal hearin ... More >>

Joel Fox, Fired Deputy, Wants to Delay Appeal Hearings if Feds are Investigating Case as Criminal Matter

A judge wants to know whether a criminal investigation is open on Joel Fox, the fired Maricopa Sheriff's Office captain at the heart of the infamous "SCA" campaign-financing scandal. Which is great, because so do we. Fox has been fighting to get his job back in a lengthy appeal proceeding that beg ... More >>

Self-Proclaimed Whistleblower Phil Roberts Wasn't Retaliated Against by the Phoenix Police Department, Feds Say

​ Phoenix police officials should have more closely examined allegations made by police Sergeant Phil Roberts about falsified border-related kidnapping statistics before deciding to investigate him for making those claims, according to a federal investigative report obtained by New Times. That mes ... More >>

Joe Arpaio's "Birther" Investigation in You Write the Caption

Your Caption Here​Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio may have blown it on 432 sex-crime investigations, but there's one "investigation" he's quite proud of: his "Cold Case Posse's" investigation into whether President Barack Obama's eligible to be president.In honor of the sheriff's (embarrassing) ... More >>

Jerice Hunter Attorney: Timing of Hunter's Arrest "Real Fishy;" Says Community's Heart Should Be With Hunter

​As we reported yesterday, Jerice Hunter, the Glendale mom eyed in the disappearance of her missing 5-year-old daughter, Jhessye Shockley, has hired an attorney after getting thrown in jail -- and then released without charges being filed against her -- last week.We spoke to Hunter's attorney, Sco ... More >>

Full Munnell Memo Investigation Report Must be Released by Sheriff Arpaio's Office Within Two Weeks, Judge Orders

Joel Fox​The entire report from this year's high-profile investigation into abuses under Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio must be released within two weeks, a judge has ordered.In May, Arpaio's office released about two-thirds of a report and supplemental documents from an internal investigation ... More >>

Joe Arpaio Birther Posse Probes President Obama's Birth Certificate

Obama ain't getting anything past master-sleuth Sheriff Joe and his crack team of birther probersIn a bizarre new stab at courting conspiracy nuts who believe President Barack Obama is a Kenyan, Sheriff Joe Arpaio has empowered a "birther posse" to look into claims by wackadoodles such as World Net ... More >>

Morning Poll: Should Law Enforcement Agencies Be Comfortable Working With Joe Arpaio?

Even a janitor at a slime factory would be cautious when joining forces with Joe Arpaio.​Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio took great offense yesterday to our asking other heads of local law enforcement agencies whether they feel comfortable working with America's self-proclaimed "toughest sherif ... More >>

MCSO Infiltration by Mexican Drug Cartel Apparently a Touchy Subject for Joe Arpaio

Kholood Eid This is the face Joe Arpaio makes when you ask him about Mexican drug cartels infiltrating his office.​Don't mention how the Maricopa County Sheriff's Office was infiltrated by a Mexican drug cartel to Sheriff Joe Arpaio -- unless, of course, you want to watch him hijack a press ... More >>

Munnell Memo Investigation Report by Pinal Sheriff Paul Babeu is Overdue

Pinal County Sheriff Paul Babeu is still working on the investigation into allegations raised in the "Munnell Memo."​ While chatting with Pinal County Sheriff Paul Babeu today about border issues, we asked about his months-long investigation into allegations by Maricopa County deputy chief Fra ... More >>

DNA Match From 2004 Chandler Rape Nets Orange County Transient, Santos Basilio O'Dell

​ A California man forced to give up some DNA after violating a protective order last year revealed a dark secret, prosecutors say: He's responsible for a 2004 rape and robbery in Chandler. Santos Basilio O'Dell, 32, was ordered to stop harassing his wife in 2009, and he violated that order i ... More >>

Gabrielle Giffords Shooting Update: Congresswoman Able to Communicate With Doctors; Second Suspect Sought

Pima County Sheriff's Office Authorities are looking for this man, who they say is a "person of interest" in yesterday's shooting rampage in Tucson.​Doctors treating Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords following yesterday's shooting rampage in Tucson that left six people dead and several injur ... More >>

The ATF Agent Who Put the Mahon Brothers in the Hoosegow; Plus, Why the MCSO Has Something Else to Worry About

Pinal County Sheriff Paul Babeu Goes on the Defensive in a Desperate Attempt to Save His and Deputy Louie Puroll's Reputations

Law Firm Representing Lisa Aubuchon Bills County $177, 876 in Four Months, Repub Reports

Dennis Wilenchik​ The law firm representing Lisa Aubuchon in the probe of actions by her and her former boss, Andrew Thomas, billed the county $177,876 in four months, the Arizona Republic reports this morning. After reporters Michael Kiefer (formerly of New Times fame) and Yvonne Wingett publ ... More >>

Kiddy Porn Distribution Lands Tucson Man in Prison for 15 Years

www.icanhazcheezburger.comKitty porn probably won't get you 15 years in prison. Kiddy porn, on the other hand, might.​A Tucson man learned his fate yesterday after being convicted of transporting and possessing child pornography.Kevin Deawne Martin, 40, of Tucson, was sentenced to 15 years in pris ... More >>

Inmate Brawl in Kingman Leaves Eight Inmates Injured

www.robertstevenson.files.wordpress.com​There was a brawl involving inmates at the state prison in Kingman this afternoon and that's about as much as state prison officials wanna say about it.The fight, which started just before 1 p.m., lasted about 45 minutes and led to eight inmates being taken ... More >>

California Man Arrested in 1982 Murder of Woman Whose Head Was Found Floating Down Arizona Side of Colorado River

San Bernadino County Sheriff's Office Jimmy Joe Cox​After an eight-year cold case investigation, police in California think they've got the man responsible for murdering a woman nearly 30 years ago and putting her dismembered head in the Colorado River.Jimmy Joe Cox, now 71, was arrested ye ... More >>

Cold Case Files: Phoenix Police Have Suspect in 15-Year-Old Murder Case

www.creativealleyproductions.com​The Phoenix Police Department announced today that it's won an indictment for a suspect in a murder/sexual assault that happened in 1994.Who doesn't love a good cold-case file.On October 21, 1994, 35-year-old Eric Harmon was found murdered and sexually assaul ... More >>

Bomb Threat Clears Superior Court's East Wing; Rumor Mill Churning Over Possibility of Link to Sheriff

A phoned-in bomb threat this morning at the Maricopa County Superior Court had some folks wondering about a possible tie to negative news about Sheriff Joe Arpaio. An earlier bomb threat at the court last month followed the jailing of Adam Stoddard, the detention officer Sheriff Arpaio claimed ... More >>

Arpaio Investigating Governor Jan Brewer, Source Says; Guv's Campaign Manager Also Under Scrutiny

Image: Ray Stern​Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio's criminal investigation into potential misdeeds by county leaders includes Governor Jan Brewer, a source close to the investigation tells New Times.The source, who did not want to want to be identified, did not want to elaborate on the subject o ... More >>

Time Bomb: A '70s Cop Killing Investigation Leads to a Chicago Law Professor Who Helped Launch Barack Obama's Political Career

Thank You, Karl Rove -- The Truth Behind DOJ's Renzi Leaks

Paul Charlton​Poor Paul Charlton.There's new news in the ongoing probe of the Bush adminstration's meddling with U.S. Attorneys, including the Phoenix-based Charlton, who was ultimately forced to resign by the very administration that appointed him. As the Republic's Dennis Wagner reported today, ... More >>

"Appearance of Evil" Requires Personal Sanctions Against County Attorney Andrew Thomas, Say County Supervisors

A conflict of interest between Maricopa County Attorney Andrew Thomas and the county Board of Supervisors over the investigation of a planned court tower creates the "appearance of evil," a judge has ruled.  Judge Gary Donahoe The background: In the midst of a feud with the County Superv ... More >>

Arizona Attorney General, U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission and the other agencies who might have intervened with Mortgages Ltd.

Enemies List

Arpaio haters, perceived and otherwise, beware! Looks like Joe's up to his old tricks

Polygamy Puzzle

Furor over mysterious memo masks difficulties in prosecuting illegal acts

Meanwhile, Back at the Ranch

Family says teen was disoriented and suicidal three days before death at Boys Ranch

Jailhouse Blues

State prison guard investigated for sexual misconduct

Fife's History

It took years, and some luck, to unravel Symington's web of deceit

Death of a Witness

Although a probable key witness dies in an alcohol-related accident, the feds still have a strong case against Governor Symington

POLICE PROBE PLANNING PANEL

A VILLAGE PLANNING COMMITTEE MEMBER IS UNDER INVESTIGATION. HE ALSO HAPPENED TO OPPOSE A COUNCILMEMBER'S PET DEVELOPMENT.

PROBE INTO UNION EXPANDSNLRB BROADENS INVESTIGATION OF US WEST DIRECT

FEDS PROBE SYMINGTON FIRMA GRAND JURY INVESTIGATES THE GOVERNOR'S DEVELOPMENT COMPANY AND ITS NUMEROUS FAILED REAL ESTATE DEALS