Jerry Cobb

Jodi Arias Could Be Executed in Just Four Years — if Her Death Wish Isn’t Another Lie

Jodi Arias's Kinky Murder Trial in Arizona Continues

Jodi Arias Could be Executed in Just Four Years -- If Her Wish for Death Isn't Another Lie

In an exclusive post-conviction interview, boyfriend-killer Jodi Arias insisted that she didn't plan to kill 30-year-old Travis Alexander in 2008. But now that she's been convicted of premeditated murder, she'd "prefer to die sooner than later." Arias went on to say to Channel 10's Troy Hayden, "L ... More >>

Bill Montgomery: Victimizer of Undocumented Workers, Turns Victims' Rights Advocate in DC

It's a requirement in Arizona, more than in any other state in the Union, that politicians be shameless hypocrites. And Maricopa County Attorney Bill Montgomery is no piker in this regard. See also: -DPS Officer's Pursuit of DREAMer Lands Woman in Stir for Six Months -Bill Montgomery's Deaf Victim ... More >>

Bill Montgomery's Victims Rot in Jail, While Arizona Republic Praises His Hypocrisy on Immigration Reform

Now, a news flash from inside the stultifying atmosphere of the Arizona Republic's editorial bubble: Hypocrisy is a good thing. Particularly as practiced by Maricopa County Attorney Bill Montgomery. See also: -Joe Arpaio, Bill Montgomery Lose Again: Undocumented Worker Found "Not Guilty" -Bill M ... More >>

Ame Deal Murder: Charges Dropped Against One of Six Family Members

Charges have been dropped against ​Ammandea Stoltzmann, one of six family members accused of harming 10-year-old Ame Deal, who was murdered in Phoenix almost two years ago in one of the most horrific child-abuse cases in the Valley in recent history.Ame was killed in July 2011 after police say she ... More >>

Peter Spaw, High-Ranking Deputy County Attorney, Disciplined After Admitting He Worked on Bogus Racketeering Suit; Bill Montgomery Isn't Saying a Word

The head of the Maricopa County Attorney's Office's Asset Recovery Bureau, Peter Spaw, has admitted to working on a racketeering lawsuit he knew was unsupported by evidence. Yet the county attorney, Bill Montgomery, won't say a word about it. Does the admission and two years' probation of his law ... More >>

County Attorney Bill Montgomery's Endorsement Rejected by Pastor Warren Stewart in District 8 Phoenix City Council Race

Maricopa County Attorney Bill Montgomery apparently either was asked for his endorsement or offered it -- depending on whom you ask -- to Pastor Warren Stewart's District 8 campaign. We asked Stewart's campaign, and we didn't get a straight answer at first, other than getting informed that Stewart ... More >>

ASU Police File Sex-Abuse Case Against Swim Coach Now at University of Utah

The University of Utah's head swimming coach is accused of sexually abusing a teenage girl while he was the coach of an elite swim team that practices at Arizona State University.Maricopa County Attorney's Office spokesman Jerry Cobb confirms to New Times that the ASU Police Department has filed a r ... More >>

Bill Montgomery Looks the Other Way at 1,761 Possible Felony Crimes

Sounds like forgery is rampant in Tempe. Will Bill Montgomery respond? Are all truly equal before the law? When it comes to forgery in Maricopa County, the answer is a decided, "Hell, no." Yesterday, the Tempe Police Department issued statistics showing that last year they had confiscated "1,761 f ... More >>

Bill Montgomery Is No Immigration Moderate

Bill Montgomery Prosecuting Fewer Illegal Immigrants for Smuggling Themselves Into Country

Maricopa County Bill Montgomery has prosecuted far fewer illegal immigrants for conspiring to smuggle themselves than his predecessor, Andrew Thomas. Thomas, who was disbarred earlier this year for abusing his power, came up with the idea to charge average illegal immigrants with conspiracy under A ... More >>

Two Ex-Cons Fight for Stakes in a Gold-for-Cash Business

A Woman Was Held in Jail Because Authorities Thought She Was Illegal

Hash, Kief, Tinctures and Other Concentrates of Marijuana Might Not be Legal Under Medical-Marijuana Law

One thing to add about our blog post today on the raid of Arizona Cannabis Society:Phoenix police say they intend to submit charges on some of the people involved, including charges related to the production of concentrated marijuana.That brings up the thorny question of whether such concentrates ar ... 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 >>

Kyleigh Sousa Murder Suspect's Attempt at a Plea Deal Rejected, Case Set to Go to Trial

​Joseluis Marquez, the suspect in the 2010 death of 21-year-old Arizona State University student Kyleigh Sousa, is slated to go to trial in May.Sousa, 21, was dragged by a car in an attempted robbery of her purse in an IHOP parking lot just south of the University's Tempe campus on May 26, 2010. S ... More >>

Would Bill Montgomery and Company Actually Prosecute Porn Actors for Prostitution?

Maricopa County Attorney Bill Montgomery sent out a gentle reminder yesterday that anyone paid to appear in a porno flick "may be guilty" of prostitution.He's not saying the County Attorney's Office is going after the porno industry -- or that it isn't -- but with rumors of California-based porno co ... More >>

Bill Montgomery's Warning to the Porn Industry: Filming Nudie Flicks in Arizona May Be Prostitution (Even Though It's Been Happening Here for Years)

​Maricopa County Attorney Bill Montgomery's heard the news that several California porn-production companies may be planning to come out to Arizona, partially due to Los Angeles' new law requiring porn actors to wear condoms.Now, Montgomery's warning that bare-backing it on camera in Arizona may q ... More >>

Shapiro/Gaudet Murders: Michael Crane's Girlfriend Maricela Sanchez Arrested

​Police have arrested the seventh person in connection with the murders of Paradise Valley couple Glenna and Lawrence Shapiro or Phoenix man Bruce Gaudet.Maricela Sanchez has been arrested on a warrant for Gaudet's murder -- and related robbery and kidnapping charges -- Maricopa County Attorney's ... More >>

Shapiro/Gaudet Murders: Cops Now Looking for Eighth and Ninth Suspects, Slightly Less Redacted Police Reports Released

​About a month ago, police arrested a sixth suspect in connection with the murders of Paradise Valley couple Glenna and Lawrence Shapiro, as well as Phoenix man Bruce Gaudet, and with those arrests came a heavily redacted police report.Now, Jerry Cobb, spokesman for the Maricopa County Attorney's ... More >>

Jerald Newman, of Bloody Black Friday Arrest at Walmart, Not Charged Yet on Allegation of Shoplifting and Resisting Arrest

Jerald Newman was left bloodied and bruised after his arrest at a Buckeye Walmart on Black Friday. Witnesses say a cop was too rough with him.​ Jerald Newman, the grandpa whose bloody arrest at a Walmart on Black Friday made national headlines, hasn't yet been charged on allegations of shoplif ... More >>

Jerice Hunter, Mother Suspected in Disappearance of 5-Year-Old Jhessye Shockley, Released From Jail

MCSOJerice Hunter is a free woman...for now.​Jerice Hunter, the mother of missing 5-year-old Jhessye Shockley -- who is suspected in the girl's disappearance -- has been released from jail.Hunter, the Maricopa County Sheriff's Office says, was released about 10:40 a.m today.Jerry Cobb, spokesman f ... More >>

Is Defense Attorney David Appleton a Murderer?

MCSODefense attorney David Appleton​Scottsdale defense attorney David Appleton fatally shot a father of three during an apparent road-rage incident earlier this month. Yesterday, we learned that the second-degree murder charge against him has been dropped -- for now."We've asked the Scottsdale Pol ... More >>

State Drops Charges Against DEA-Busted Operators of a Tempe Medical Marijuana Clinic

​All charges have been dropped from September's high-profile bust by the Drug Enforcement Agency of a Tempe medical marijuana clinic.The DEA arrested James Chaney and Rachel Beeder of Arizona Go Green Co-Op on September 29 following a morning raid on the clinic and Chaney's Phoenix home. About 60 ... More >>

No Charges Filed (For Now) Against Thomas Weaver, Phoenix Teacher Accused of Feelin' Up Students

​A teacher accused of feeling up two female students will not be charged with any crimes, the Maricopa County Superior Court announced this morning.However, the County Attorney's Office can still file charges against Thomas Weaver -- evidence permitting, that is. Jerry Cobb, a spokesman for the MC ... More >>

Hells Angel Kevin Augustiniak Pleads Guilty to Murder in 2001 Slaying of Cynthia Garcia

www.bighousecrew.net Kevin Augustiniak​Ten years after murdering Mesa resident Cynthia Garcia, one of several members of the Hells Angels initially charged in her death has pleaded guilty to second-degree murder.Kevin J. Augustiniak entered his plea last week, nearly eight years after his 2 ... More >>

County Attorney's Office Explains Not Charging Former Cop Christopher Balmaceda With Sexual Abuse

​Despite the fact that police recommended that former Glendale cop Christopher Balmaceda be charged with one count of sexual abuse and four counts of luring a minor for sexual exploitation for allegedly sending inappropriate text messages to teenage girls -- kissing and touching one of them -- the ... More >>

County Attorney Won't Charge Ex-Glendale Cop Accused of Sexting/Sexually Abusing Teen Girl *UPDATED*

​UPDATE: See the Maricopa County Attorney's Office's explanation for not charging Balmaceda here.A former Glendale cop accused of sexting several teenage girls, and sexually abusing another, won't be charged with any crimes.Police recommended that former Glendale Officer Christopher Balmaceda be c ... More >>

Russell Pearce's "Sham" Candidate Olivia Cortes' Date in Court This Thursday

oliviacortes.comWill Lisa Hauser end up defending Olivia Cortes as well? I wouldn't be surprised.Maricopa County Superior Court Judge Edward Burke will preside over a hearing this Thursday in a lawsuit brought by elections law attorney Tom Ryan, alleging that Olivia Cortes' candidacy for state Senat ... More >>

Mesa Teen in Custody After Fatally Shooting Ex-Girlfriend's Mom

​Mesa police say a teen walked into the open garage at the home of his ex-girlfriend, went into the laundry room, and fatally shot the girl's mother yesterday afternoon.The woman's husband was home at the time of the shooting, which happened in a neighborhood near Baseline and Sossaman Roads about ... More >>

Teenage Murder Suspect Stole Gun From Dad; Planned to Kill Girlfriend

www.bemovie.com A 16-year-old Mesa boy's been booked on on count of first-degree murder after he admitted to fatally shooting his girlfriend's mother.​A 16-year-old Mesa boy who admitted to fatally shooting his girlfriend's 42-year-old mother yesterday afternoon told police that he stole th ... More >>

Mesa 16-Year-Old Accused of Murdering Girlfriend's Mom Identified as Braden Matthew Rockriver; Will Be Charged as Adult

Maricopa County Attorney Bill Montgomery has decided to charge a Mesa 16-year-old as an adult for the murder of the boy's girlfriend's mother.​Maricopa County Attorney's Office spokesman Jerry Cobb tells New Times that the Mesa 16-year-old accused of murdering his girlfriend's mother will be charg ... More >>

Bryan Stewart, a.k.a. Rick Valentini, Convicted of Multiple Counts of Identity Theft -- Now for the Murder Trial

Bryan Stewart a.k.a. Rick Valentini​Rick Valentini -- a.k.a. Bryan Stewart was in a Maricopa County Superior Court this afternoon, where he was found guilty of 29 counts of forgery, four counts of identity theft, four counts of misconduct involving a weapon, two counts of money laundering, and one ... More >>

TSA Titty-Twister Yukari Miyamae Will Not be Charged With Felony

Phoenix Police DepartmentFelony charges will not be filed against Yukari Miyamae.​The Maricopa County Attorney's Office tells New Times that the Colorado woman arrested for giving a Transportation Safety Administration agent a titty-twister last week will not be charged with a felony. But she's no ... More >>

Medical Marijuana Is Under Attack in Arizona Again -- But This Time, Voters and Patients Hold the High Ground

Teenage Killer of Carneige, Local Hip-Hop Star, Pleads Guilty to Manslaughter

MCSO Kathryn Elizabeth Hetrick's booking photo.​Kathryn Elizabeth Hetrick, a teenage drunk driver responsible for the death of local hip-hop artist Abay Lattin last year, pleaded guilty to manslaughter in Maricopa County Superior Court.  The 18-year-old former Arizona State ... More >>

Daniel Gukeisen, Ex-Attorney Who Fatally Stabbed ASU Student, Sentenced to Five Years in the Joint

Daniel Gukeisen​Daniel Gukeisen, a former attorney who was convicted of fatally stabbing Arizona State University student Garrett Hohn, was sentenced to five years in prison this morning after being found guilty of manslaughter last month.He actually showed up for court this time.When the verdict ... More >>

ASU Wrestling's Undie Run Attackers Referred to County Attorney's Office

This why inviting ASU wrestlers to a booze-fueled "undie run" is a bad idea.​Authorities have referred the cases of two members of the Arizona State University wrestling team who were caught on camera attacking a man at the school's annual "Undie Run" to the Maricopa County Attorney's Office ... More >>

Maricopa County Attorney's Office Explains Light Sentence for Jehovah's Witness Elder Convicted of Sex Crimes

​David Clark Nelson, a former Jehovah's Witness elder, pleaded guilty to charges that in 1980 he played strip poker and had oral sex with a teenage boy. He was sentenced this morning to six months in county jail and three years probation. If that seems like a light sentence, that's because it is. ... More >>

Pot Cases in Mohave County Dismissed 'Cause of Out-of-State Medical-Weed Cards

  ​Proposition 203 has sparked dismissal of pot-possession charges in Mohave County against at least 10 people who had out-of-state medical-weed cards. Though the charges shouldn't have been brought against such marijuana card-holders in the first place, what's been happening ... More >>

Serial Drunk Driver -- Once Caught Drunk With Baby Steering Car -- Sentenced to 20 Years in Hoosegow

Jack Mizer drives drunk...a lot.​A serial drunk driver prosecutors refer to as "one of the greatest threats to public safety in Maricopa County," has been sentenced to 20 years in prison after pleading guilty to his two latest counts of driving under the influence, which is a shitload of time for ... More >>

Bill Montgomery and Sheila Polk Probed Whether Prop 203 was Constitutional

Bill Montgomery​ Back in December, medical marijuana foes Bill Montgomery and Sheila Polk, county attorneys for Maricopa and Yavapai, respectively, quietly explored whether or not Proposition 203 could be declared unconstitutional. An e-mail sent to the Arizona Department of Health Services o ... More >>

Driver In Accident That Killed Silver Medallion's Carnegie Indicted for Manslaughter

Jamie Lumsden The late Abay Lattin (a.k.a. Carneige) of Silver Medallion.​Kathryn Elizabeth Hetrick, the teenage driver allegedly responsible for the fatal accident last fall that killed hip-hop artist Carnegie was indicted this past week. According to Jerry Cobb, spokesperson for the Mari ... More >>

Maricopa County Attorney's Office Yet to Decide Whether to Appeal Dismissal of Charges for Alleged Murderer

Joseph Roberts​Apache Superior Court Judge Donna Grimsley dropped murder charges against an eastern Arizona man because, she says, the accused's rights were violated when he was interviewed by investigators without a lawyer.Joseph Roberts is believed to have murdered 72-year-old William "Stoney" ... More >>

Victims Sought in Sherman Unkefer's $7.5 Million Restitution Case From 1980s

Sherman Unkefer​ About 1,000 victims who lost money back in the 1980s to Sherman Unkefer, the former head of a major precious metals firm in Phoenix, will be sought for possible restitution of $7.5 million. The case was remanded back to trial court on September 21 by the state Court of Appeal ... More >>

Kevin Gerster, Former MCSO Detention Officer Accused of Beating Inmates, Charged With Aggravated Assault

Former MCSO detention officer Kevin Gerster.​The Maricopa County Attorney's Office announced today that Kevin Gerster, the former Maricopa County detention officer seen on security video punching two restrained inmates, has been charged with several crimes for his alleged misdoings while a member ... More >>

MCSO Detention Officer Involved in Jail Beat Downs Not Charged by County Attorney -- Yet. Case Being Reviewed

Former Arpaio detention officer Kevin Gerster has not been charged with a crime in the beatings of two jail inmates -- yet.​The Maricopa County detention officer seen beating two inmates in the psych ward at one of Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio's jails has not been charged with a crime -- yet ... More >>

Steve Moak Will Drop "Big Shoe" on Ben Quayle at "Appropriate Time"

Ben Quayle​The campaign of Congressional candidate Ben Quayle continues to hound Steve Moak for answers to questions he posed to Moak in a letter. The Moak campaign continues to not answer them -- yet.The questions pertain to the relationship between Moak's anti-drug charity, NotMYkid, and a busin ... More >>

Steve Moak to Drop "Big Shoe" on Ben Quayle. Bigger Than That "Dirty" Shoe?

Congressional candidate Ben Quayle​Is there a bigger bomb on the horizon than the "dirty" bomb that hit Congressional candidate Ben Quayle last week?One of his opponents, Steve Moak, suggests there might be.We contacted Moak's campaign spokesman, Jerry Cobb, today to see if Moak was planning on re ... More >>

Steve Moak Responds to Some of Ben Quayle's Questions Via New Times

Congressional candidate Steve Moak​Since our earlier post about letters exchanged (and distributed to the media) between Congressional candidates Ben Quayle and Steve Moak, Moak's campaign got back to us and answered a some of the questions posed in Quayle's letter.In case you missed it, Moak sent ... More >>