Sandi Wilson

The Feds Proved Themselves a Cage of Cowardly Lions in the Arpaio Investigation

MaryEllen Sheppard, Longtime Sheriff's Office Employee, Gets Billboard Farewell by Lisa Allen, Arpaio's Spokeswoman

MaryEllen Sheppard's apparently one of the more likeable chiefs at the Maricopa County Sheriff's Office. Last year's departure of two of Sheriff Joe Arpaio's top administrators, Dave Hendershott and Larry Black, was a shameful episode for Sheriff Joe Arpaio, who claimed he was "duped" by their corr ... More >>

Peter Spaw, Deputy County Attorney, Focus of New State Supreme Court Probe Stemming From Andrew Thomas Case

See also: Peter Spaw, Deputy County Attorney, Under State Bar "Inquiry" for Role in Discredited Racketeering Case; Also Named in New Lawsuits See also: Rachel Alexander Wins Reprieve From Judge; Appeal Back on Track County prosecutor Peter Spaw is the subject of a new ethics probe related to the ... More >>

Steven LaMar, Cave Creek Councilman, Dumped as Lawyer for Maricopa County Amid Criticism in Mary Rose Wilcox Claim

Maricopa County has dumped Cave Creek Councilman Steven LaMar following his failure to convince a federal judge that a $975,000 payment to Supervisor Mary Rose Wilcox might need further authorization.LaMar was appointed to defend the county in late 2010 against the claims and subsequent lawsuits by ... More >>

Maria Brandon, Fired Maricopa Civil Attorney, Says County Retaliated Against Her for Defending Sheriff Joe Arpaio

Maricopa County leaders retaliated against a county civil attorney for providing Sheriff Joe Arpaio legal help and for voicing her opinion to a newspaper, the woman claims in a lawsuit.Maria Brandon, a veteran deputy county attorney until her termination in June of 2011, says that her civil rig ... 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 >>

Federal Lawsuit Against Sheriff Joe Arpaio and Former County Attorney Andrew Thomas to Proceed; No Immunity, Judge Rules

Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio and former County Attorney Andrew Thomas were blasted in a court ruling on Monday, the day before Thomas found himself disbarred. As we pointed out earlier today, the 247-page opinion by the state Supreme Court panel that disbarred Thomas made it clear that Arpaio ... More >>

Randy Parraz and Supporters Disrupt County Meeting About Sheriff Arpaio With Walkout; Watch Video

Image: Ray SternRandy Parraz meets with supporters outside the meeting hall of the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors before leading a disruptive walkout.​ Activist Randy Parraz led a disruptive walkout on Tuesday at the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors meeting in protest of board policy ... More >>

Peter Spaw, Deputy County Attorney, Under State Bar "Inquiry" for Role in Discredited Racketeering Case; Also Named in New Lawsuits

One major difference between the old and new lawsuits against Maricopa County by a retired judge and current County Supervisor is this name:Peter Spaw.Spaw, a deputy prosecutor with the Maricopa County Attorney's Office since 2000, was a key figure in the 2009 federal racketeering complaint against ... More >>

Shawn Nau, Maricopa County General Government Director, was Responsible for Leak of Joel Fox Records

​Shawn Nau, Maricopa County's general government director, was responsible for leaking records about former deputy Joel Fox to the press in apparent defiance of a court order.Though county spokeswoman Cari Gerchick told us last week that the leaker had received a written reprimand for his actions, ... More >>

Maricopa County Officials File Amended Claims Against County and Sheriff Arpaio; Streamlined to Comply With Judge's Order

Current and former Maricopa County officials have filed new, streamlined complaints against the county and Sheriff Joe Arpaio to comply with a judge's order. Filing anew are: County Supervisor Mary Rose Wilcox and her husband, Earl; County Supervisor Don Stapley; retired Superior Court Judges Barba ... More >>

County Stalls Release of Records on Employee Disciplined for Releasing Records

Earlier this month, Maricopa County moved at lightning speed to turn over documents to a newspaper about a fired sheriff's deputy.Now, county officials are taking their sweet time to release records related to the discipline of the fall guy (or gal) who handed over those deputy documents. Part of o ... More >>

Three Maricopa County Employees Heading to Mediation on Monday for Possible Settlement of Multi-Million-Dollar Claims Vs. Sheriff Arpaio and Andrew Thomas

Sandi Wilson, Maricopa County deputy county manager, is among three county employees attending mediation for their claims in lawsuits against Sheriff Arpaio and former County Attorney Andy Thomas.​Three Maricopa County employees are heading to mediation talks on Monday with the possibility of sett ... More >>

Lawsuits by County Officials Vs. County Move to Federal Court

  Image: Ray Stern Maricopa County Supervisors Don Stapley and Mary Rose Wilcox.​A $10 million lawsuit filed by Maricopa County Supervisor Don Stapley last Thursday against the county will likely end up in federal court. Lawsuits alleging abuse of power, defamation, civil right ... More >>

Joe Arpaio and Andrew Thomas' Bullying of County Officials Could Cost Taxpayers More Than $13 Million

America's self-proclaimed "toughest sheriff," Joe Arpaio.​The numbers have been tallied. If county officials get their way, lawsuits filed against Maricopa County over alleged wrongdoing by Sheriff Joe Arpaio and former County Attorney Andrew Thomas will cost taxpayers more than $13 million.Three ... More >>

Paul Babeu's Joe Arpaio Probe: Who Pays for It?

PCSOShould Babeu get funds from Maricopa County to pay for the Munnell memo inquiry? Who will pick up the tab for Pinal County Sheriff Paul Babeu's investigation into the allegations made in MCSO Deputy Chief Frank Munnell's memo? And should Maricopa County pay for any of it, particularly considerin ... More >>

David Smith, Maricopa County Manager, Gets No "Credit" for Not Suing County, Thomas Spokesman Says

  David Smith gets no "credit" from Andrew Thomas for deciding not to sue the county.​While Andrew Thomas won't stoop so low as to take our call, his debate-loving spokesman, Barnett Lotstein, nearly always calls us back. We just heard from him on our question, posed in an e ... More >>

Resolution Process Considered for Claims Related to Actions of Joe Arpaio and Andrew Thomas; Plan Involves Hiring Dispute Expert Kenneth Feinberg

  Photo: Wikipedia Dispute master Kenneth Feinberg may get the job of resolving millions in claims against Maricopa County by county officials.​The Maricopa County Board of Supervisors are expected to vote Wednesday on whether to hire dispute expert Kenneth Feinberg to handle claims a ... More >>

Sandi Wilson Files Notice Against Maricopa County -- Demands Apology?

Deputy County Manager Sandi Wilson wants an apology.​Here's a new one.Deputy County Manager Sandi Wilson has filed a notice of claim against Sheriff Joe Arpaio and former county attorney Andrew Thomas. But she's not asking for big bucks.She simply wants a written apology.Wilson, a 17-year county e ... More >>

A Great Day (Coming): We Invoke Iconic Art For Our 40th and to Honor Community Resistance to Oppression

Sheriff Joe Arpaio Could Face Arrest Warrant Thanks to Supervisors Subpoena

Sheriff Joe Arpaio must comply with a subpoena by May 7 or face some serious repercussions.​The Maricopa County Board of Supervisors are demanding documents from Sheriff Joe Arpaio related to a possible misappropriation of detention funds -- and if he doesn't comply, a county spokeswoman tells New ... More >>

Lisa "I'd Indict A Half-Eaten Ham Sandwich" Aubuchon To Be Sheriff Joe's New Towing Program Czarina? Priceless, but Doubtful

We recently wrote half-kidding (just half) that Andy Thomas henchwoman deputy county attorney Lisa Aubuchon would be on her way to a new gig with Sheriff Joe Arpaio in no time. ​  Then, late last week, we got word that this failure of a prosecutor had been  ... More >>

The Court Tower Conspiracy: Andrew Thomas and Joe Arpaio's Court Tower "Cover-Up" Sounds Like a Good Story, But It's Pure Fiction

Nativists Go Nuts at a Phoenix Walmart, and the Arizona Republic Belittles the U.S. Attorney’s Investigation of Sheriff Joe Arpaio

Joe Arpaio Grand Jury Probe Begins, One Witness' Lawyer Expects Investigation to Last "Six Months"

Maricopa County Manager David Smith (left) with his attorney Michael Black, outside the federal courthouse in PhoenixThere was a chill, and dare I say it, a thrill in the air for some, on this winter Wednesday morning, the first day of a federal grand jury looking into criminal abuses of power by Sh ... More >>

Joe Arpaio Subject of Federal Grand Jury, Channel 5 Reports

Reckon they have pink undies in the federal pen? According to KPHO's 5 p.m. newscast, the station has confirmed that a federal grand jury is looking into Sheriff Joe Arpaio's abuses of power, and his retaliatory investigations of his political enemies. Reporter Morgan Loew just broke ... More >>

The Nooses Must Be Cut Down

Yavapai County Attorney Sheila Polk provided the blade. Now it's up to AG Goddard and President Obama to use it

The Pink Negro: As an Ivy League Lawyer, is President Barack Obama Hard Enough to Confront the Evil Personified by Sheriff Joe Arpaio?

Racketeering Lawsuit Against County by Thomas and Arpaio is Weak Conspiracy Theory

The first reason why the racketeering lawsuit filed today against county leaders is probably going nowhere: It's being handled by Lisa Aubuchon, the deputy county attorney who has consistently blown politically sensitive cases for Maricopa County Attorney Andrew Thomas. Under Aubuchon's leadership, ... More >>

More County Squabbling: Treasurer Sues County Leaders, Claiming His Office is Being Stripped of Money (and Therefore, Power)

"Hos," the Maricopa County Treasurer​ Maricopa County Treasurer Charles "Hos" Hoskins has finally carried through on a threat he made back in December to sue the county again. Hoskins already has a lawsuit pending against the county regarding the alleged swiping of his office's IT equipment. ... More >>

Cisco Company Partner in Tempe Giving $527,000 "Donation" to County; Sheriff's Office Questions Deal

​ A planned $527,000 "donation" to Maricopa County's IT department by Tempe-based Insight Networking (a.k.a. Calence) looks suspicious to the sheriff's office. After a hearing last week over the sheriff's takeover of the ICJIS system, Chief Deputy Dave Hendershott told New Times and oth ... More >>

Arpaio to Donate $2,600 to "Charities" as Sheriff's Office Employees Forced on Furloughs

Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio announced today he'll take $2,613 out of his $97,000 yearly salary and donate it to "charities" while his employees are forced to take unpaid, two-week furloughs. In typical self-aggrandizing fashion for the sheriff, the beneficiaries of Arpaio's largess will ... More >>

County Supervisors Slash Senior Services and Their Own Office Budgets in Latest Round of Cuts

A county program that transports senior citizens to medical appointments will end July 1 as part of a fresh round of budget cuts.The Board of Supervisors announced today that belt-tightening and will occur in several departments, including transportation, environmental services and in the Superviso ... More >>

Jail Lawsuit Lawyers at Odds: Chief Deputy Orders Sheriff's Office to Sever Joint Defense

Thomas IrvineWith so much county news going on, we had temporarily overlooked this fascinating tidbit: Dave Hendershott Thomas Irvine, the lawyer hired by the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors to help backhoe the rift between top county leaders, has been appointed as co-counse ... More >>

Maricopa County Makes $33 Million in Fresh Budget Cuts; Phone Waits to Lengthen, Clinic to Close

Maricopa County will close a family planning clinic, put off non-crucial building maintenance, reduce cleaning services and make other changes because of a $32.6 million budget cut. Revenues are coming in even slower than expected, forcing the Board of Supervisors to approve the latest cuts and ... More >>

Maricopa County Supervisors Spend $14,600 Sweeping for Bugs

Max Wilson, Chairman of the Maricopa County Board of SupervisorsIt seems like the very definition of paranoia: Spending thousands of dollars sweeping for hidden electronic devices -- and finding none.But that's what Maricopa County Supervisors are doing -- with your money.The county has n ... More >>

County Manager Disses Chief Deputy David Hendershott -- Calls Him "Just Plain Childish"

County Manager David Smith didn't call David Hendershott (far left) fat. But we will.Maricopa County Manager David Smith lit into Sheriff Joe Arpaio's top aide at a meeting last Friday, comparing him to Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde and calling him "just plain childish." Amazingly, Chief Deputy D ... More >>

Sheriff Arpaio Slams County Over Denial of Staff Promotions; Budgeter Says Sheriff Ignores Fiscal Realities

The public war of words (and lawsuits and public records requests and criminal indictments) between county officials has been going on behind the scenes, too.One of our much-appreciated leaks at the Maricopa County Sheriff's Office forwarded to New Times an internal "Briefing Board" memo from Arpaio ... More >>