Trials

Federal Judge Dismisses Certain Claims in New Times' Lawsuit Against County Attorney Andrew Thomas and Sheriff Joe Arpaio. The Case Will Move Forward

Tim Nelson: "Alarming Increase in Acquittal Rates" During Andrew Thomas' Tenure as County Attorney (With Update from Thomas' Office)

Arizona Appeals Court Upholds Conspiracy Conviction for Illegal Immigrant

New Times’ Lawsuit Continues, Stern’s “Disorderly Conduct” Charge Dropped, and We Ask a Judge to Force Joe to Release Video of a Suffocated Inmate's Last Minutes

Dramatic Testimony Heard In Mormon Murder Case

Jurors and a packed courtroom heard riveting, often heartbreaking, testimony today as the prosecution opened its first-degree murder case against former Phoenix Suns nutritionist Doug Grant. Actually, Jenna Stradling, who is alleged murder victim Faylene Grant's 18-year-old daughter, is on the st ... More >>

Buddhist Temple Murders Killer's Conviction Overturned by Ninth Circuit Court

The nightmare of the 1991 massacre at a Phoenix Buddhist temple resurfaced today after the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals overturned the conviction of the triggerman in the slayings, Jonathan Doody (pictured above with his lawyer). The Associated Press reports that the appeals court judges found ... More >>

County Creates New Civil Litigation Department With Money Taken From County Attorney Andrew Thomas

The Maricopa County Board Supervisors today sealed the deal on their transfer of power over civil litigation matters out of the office of County Attorney Andrew Thomas (pictured). With a vote in their informal meeting this morning, the supervisors created a new department to handle civil lawsui ... More >>

Before Don Stapley’s Indictment, There Was the Land Deal

The Maricopa County Board Supervisors today sealed the deal on their transfer of power over civil litigation matters out of the office of County Attorney Andrew Thomas (pictured). With a vote in their informal meeting this morning, the supervisors created a new department to handle civil lawsui ... More >>

Hate For Doug Grant: Despite Scant Evidence That Grant Killed His Wife, the Jury Convicted Him Anyhow

The Maricopa County Board Supervisors today sealed the deal on their transfer of power over civil litigation matters out of the office of County Attorney Andrew Thomas (pictured). With a vote in their informal meeting this morning, the supervisors created a new department to handle civil lawsui ... More >>

The Outcome of the "Serial Shooter" Case Seems Certain, While the Doug Grant Mormon Murder Trial Is Anything but That

The Maricopa County Board Supervisors today sealed the deal on their transfer of power over civil litigation matters out of the office of County Attorney Andrew Thomas (pictured). With a vote in their informal meeting this morning, the supervisors created a new department to handle civil lawsui ... More >>

Andrew Thomas Ignores Evidence That Courtney Bisbee Was Wrongly Convicted of Child Molestation As Supporters Work to Free Her

The Maricopa County Board Supervisors today sealed the deal on their transfer of power over civil litigation matters out of the office of County Attorney Andrew Thomas (pictured). With a vote in their informal meeting this morning, the supervisors created a new department to handle civil lawsui ... More >>

Thomas Drops Court Demand for Injunction to Stop County From Running Civil Lawsuit Department

Maricopa County leadership is claiming another win in its fight against a lawsuit filed by County Attorney Andrew Thomas. According to the Board of Supervisors, Thomas is no longer asking the courts for an injunction to stop the county immediately from setting up its own civil lawsuit department, w ... More >>

Arizona Supreme Court Upholds Legislative Districting Plan

Ruth McGregor This just in: The Arizona Supreme Court has upheld the state's legislative districting plan, nearly seven years after it was initially adopted.A group of left-leaning advocates, including Maricopa County Supervisor Mary Rose Wilcox, State Representative Pete Rios and the Hispanic Bar A ... More >>

Muslim Claims Discrimination by Sheriff Joe Arpaio Over Beard Led to Harassment and Demotion

Sinan Fazlovic, a Bosnian Muslim who moved to the United States in 1999, thought he had an understanding about his long beard when he was hired in 2005 as a jail guard for the Maricopa County Sheriff's Office. Otherwise, he wouldn't have taken the job, he says in a lawsuit filed today by the Americ ... More >>

Liberty League of Scottsdale Runs Clean Shop, Says Lawyer; Ex-Lib Leaguers Can Judge If He's Right From '05 State Order

A lawyer for Liberty League International of Scottsdale wrote to us after our recent post about a $5 million lawsuit against the company. Not surprisingly, he rejects our gut-feeling theory that Liberty League has probably violated the terms of a 2005 settlement with Arizona Attorney General Terry ... More >>

Arpaio’s Busts of Illegals at Popular Valley Water Parks Are All Wet

A lawyer for Liberty League International of Scottsdale wrote to us after our recent post about a $5 million lawsuit against the company. Not surprisingly, he rejects our gut-feeling theory that Liberty League has probably violated the terms of a 2005 settlement with Arizona Attorney General Terry ... More >>

Dr. Deception: Joseph Franzetti Dispenses $300 Psych Evaluations Like They’re Flu Shots, but the Reports Are Useless

A lawyer for Liberty League International of Scottsdale wrote to us after our recent post about a $5 million lawsuit against the company. Not surprisingly, he rejects our gut-feeling theory that Liberty League has probably violated the terms of a 2005 settlement with Arizona Attorney General Terry ... More >>

Disabled Arizonans Sue State for Diapers

www.pmccaregivers.com​A group of severely disabled Arizonans have filed a class-action lawsuit against the Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System for denying payment for adult-incontinence briefs prescribed by a doctor.The lawsuit claims that AHCCCS denied payment for the briefs, which ... More >>

Minuteman Chris Simcox's 2007 Female Trouble

from Simcox for SenateDespite his good looks, the "Little Prince" has not always had luck with women...In doing research on Chris Simcox -- the minuteman posterboy currently waging a quixotic campaign for the 2010 GOP U.S. Senate primary nod against the ancient, lizard-skinned Senator John McCain -- ... More >>

Detention Officers to Hold Nightly Candlelight Vigil for Jailed Comrade; Sickout Yesterday Delayed 143 Cases

Image: www.youtube.comAdam Stoddard​ Maricopa County detention officers plan to hold candlight vigils starting this evening to protest the jailing of a fellow officer who swiped papers from a defense attorney's file. The Web site for the Maricopa County Association of Detention Officers says ... More >>

Arpaio's Office Blows Its Smear of Judge Gary Donahoe; Analysis of Sentencings Flawed

Judge Gary Donahoe, chief of the Maricopa County Superior Court's criminal section, routinely lets criminals off without prison time, yet jailed a detention officer doing his job. ​ That's the gist of a December 4 news release by the Sheriff's Office which cites six supposed examples of ... More >>

Arpaio and Thomas Thwarted Again in Quest to Read Court E-mail

Sheriff Joe Arpaio is thwarted again in his quest to read Barbara Mundell's e-mail. For now, anyway.​The Arizona Court of Appeals has jumped into the middle of the so-called corruption probe that Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio and County Attorney Andrew Thomas have been attempting to esc ... More >>

County Attorney's Office Should be Disqualified from Trying Cases, Defense Attorneys Say

Will Andrew Thomas be stopped from handling criminal cases, too? Some defense lawyers are working on it.​Earlier this year, the county took away the Maricopa County Attorney's Office ability to represent the board of supervisors -- setting up a separate "civil litigation" department that ans ... More >>

Is Nothing Sacred?: Apparently Not in Joe Arpaio and Andrew Thomas’ Wacked Legal World

Will Andrew Thomas be stopped from handling criminal cases, too? Some defense lawyers are working on it.​Earlier this year, the county took away the Maricopa County Attorney's Office ability to represent the board of supervisors -- setting up a separate "civil litigation" department that ans ... More >>

Joe Arpaio Gets (Minor) Victory -- Court Rejects Criminal Sanctions Against Chief Deputy

The court ruled against Sheriff Joe Arpaio in all but one minor issue.​It's not a homerun -- much less a grand slam.But considering how frequently Sheriff Joe Arpaio and County Attorney Andrew Thomas have been spanked by both the appellate and Superior courts lately, we suppose today's opini ... More >>

Fishy Fundraiser -- Part Two: Arpaio's Office Goes North to Alaska, Spends County Money, Brings Home Bacon for Joe

A couple of weeks ago, we related how a top official with the Maricopa County Sheriff's Office met with some rich guys during a fishing trip in Alaska three years ago. As we were told by the lawyer for the rich guys, Grant Woods, the Alaska trip -- which was attended by MCSO Director Larry Black -- ... More >>

CityNorth Subsidy Sent Back to Court of Appeals

Is this parking lot worth $97 million? If not, the city of Phoenix wouldn't be permitted to make a deal like CityNorth in the future, says the Arizona Supreme Court.​The Arizona Supreme Court today unanimously reversed an appellate court ruling on the CityNorth case, saying it erred wh ... More >>

Clean Elections Matching Funds Update: Goldwater Tries to Stop the Stay

Nick Dranias, attorney for the Goldwater Institute​Last week, U.S. District Court Judge Roslyn Silver put an end to all-important "matching funds" provisions in Arizona's clean elections system, saying that -- absent a stay from the appellate court -- publicly funded candidates will onl ... More >>

Phoenix Mom Sentenced in Murder of 4-Month-Old Son

Katherine Hatten​A Phoenix mom, who plead guilty to the second-degree murder of her 4-month-old son, was sentenced to decades in prison today in Maricopa County Superior Court.The Maricopa County Attorney's Office announced that 25-year-old Katherine Hatten got 37 years in prison for th ... More >>

In Debt and Under Fire, Attorney Grant Goodman Has Found an Unusual Pool of Clients: the "Victims" of Probate Court

Katherine Hatten​A Phoenix mom, who plead guilty to the second-degree murder of her 4-month-old son, was sentenced to decades in prison today in Maricopa County Superior Court.The Maricopa County Attorney's Office announced that 25-year-old Katherine Hatten got 37 years in prison for th ... More >>

Tucson Man Admits Beating Wife to Death With Flashlight in 2006

Henry Fischbacher admitted today to beating his wife to death with a flashlight.​ A Tucson man who spent more than three years in Canada fighting extradition back to Arizona admitted this afternoon to the 2006 beating death of his wife.Henry Fischbacher told the Pima County Superior Cou ... More >>

Man Accused of Beating Two Children to Death With Baseball Bat Found Incompetent

Joe Sauceda Gallegos​The man charged in the 2008 beating death of two Phoenix boys was found incompetent to stand trial today and will be sent to a mental health facilityJoe Sauceda Gallegos, 38, was charged with two counts of first-degree murder after he allegedly beat two young boys to death wit ... More >>

New York Tranny Files Second Lawsuit Against Former Arizona Cardinals Cornerback Eric Green

Eric Green​Five months after having (ahem) its first lawsuit against former Arizona Cardinals cornerback Eric Green thrown out by a Florida judge, a New York tranny has refiled a similar lawsuit alleging Green performed "forcible sodomy" on him (or is it "her?" If anyone knows the PC objective pro ... More >>

Grinding Justice: Operation Streamline Costs Millions, Tramples the Constitution, Treats Migrants Like Cattle, and Doesn't Work

Eric Green​Five months after having (ahem) its first lawsuit against former Arizona Cardinals cornerback Eric Green thrown out by a Florida judge, a New York tranny has refiled a similar lawsuit alleging Green performed "forcible sodomy" on him (or is it "her?" If anyone knows the PC objective pro ... 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 >>

'Honor Killing' Case Goes To Jury As Murderous Dad Stays Mum

Faleh Almaleki's attorney had but three words to say when the Maricopa County Superior Court judge asked him to call his first witness late this morning. "The defense rests," assistant public defender Jeffrey Kirchler muttered. It meant that Almaleki, the 50-year-old Glendale man accused of mur ... More >>

Arpaio's Deputy Claims a Slight, 50-Year-Old Latino Attacked Him

Faleh Almaleki's attorney had but three words to say when the Maricopa County Superior Court judge asked him to call his first witness late this morning. "The defense rests," assistant public defender Jeffrey Kirchler muttered. It meant that Almaleki, the 50-year-old Glendale man accused of mur ... More >>

Kid-Killing Minutewoman Shawna Forde's Accomplice Guilty on All Counts in Murders of Man and Child

Jason Eugene Bush​Kid-killing Minutewoman Shawna Forde's co-defendant, Jason Eugene Bush, was found guilty this morning in a Pima County Superior Court for the murders of an Arivaca man and his daughter in May 2009.In addition to the two first-degree murder convictions for the murders of Rau ... More >>

Warner Music Group Sued by Shareholders to Block Sale of Company

Wikimedia CommonsWarner Music Group CEO Edgar Bronfman Jr.​As we reported earlier this month, mammoth Warner Music Group was up for auction  -- supposedly to the highest bidder, but that's not how it went down, according to a class action lawsuit filed yesterday by WMG stock holder Derek Cou ... More >>

David Morris Pleads Guilty to Charges He Turned Phoenix Home into Kiddie-Porn Studio

David Robert Morris​A Phoenix man accused of using his west Phoenix home to shoot kiddie-porn films pleaded guilty today in Maricopa County Superior Court.David Robert Morris was arrested in October and charged with 10 counts of sexual exploitation and seven counts of sexual conduct with a minor. ... More >>

Marijuana-Dispensary Hopefuls Sue State Over Governor Brewer's Attack on Voter-Approved Law

​ Would-be marijuana dispensary owners and their lawyers filed lawsuits today in an attempt to reverse Governor Jan Brewer's attack on a voter-approved law. Last month, Brewer directed state Attorney General Tom Horne to file a federal lawsuit against the new law, which voters narrow ... More >>

James Ray Guilty of Negligent Homicide; Manslaughter Charges Didn't Stick

James Ray was found guilty of negligent homicide. Manslaughter charges didn't stick.​"Spiritual warrior" James Ray was found guilty today of three counts of negligent homicide in the deaths of three people at a 2009 "self-help" retreat near Sedona, during which he guided dozens of people int ... More >>

Dennis Burke Won't Prosecute Sheriff Arpaio or His Employees Over "Exorbitant" Extradition Costs

​ Extraditions performed by the Maricopa County Sheriff's Office were "inexplicably exorbitant" but not a criminal misuse of public funds, U.S. Attorney Dennis Burke has decided. At the request of County Manager David Smith (see below), Burke's office conducted a review of how Sheri ... More >>

Attorney General Horne Hired Carmen Chenal to a Highly Paid Top Post -- 'Cause She's His Goomba

​ Extraditions performed by the Maricopa County Sheriff's Office were "inexplicably exorbitant" but not a criminal misuse of public funds, U.S. Attorney Dennis Burke has decided. At the request of County Manager David Smith (see below), Burke's office conducted a review of how Sheri ... 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 >>

Facebook Sued by Scottsdale Woman, Sharon Beatty, Over Site's Tracking of Web Browsing History While Logged Off; Class Action Ruling Sought

​ Facebook calls it a glitch, but a Scottsdale woman and her Phoenix lawyer want to be compensated for the social media site's surreptitious tracking of Web browsing history.Former state Attorney General Grant Woods filed the federal complaint on Friday for his client, Sharon Beatty of Scottsd ... More >>

Facebook Lawsuit Plaintiff Sharon Beatty is Lawyer Grant Woods' Secretary

Grant Woods, a Valley lawyer and former state Attorney General, filed a federal complaint against Facebook this week on behalf of plaintiff Sharon Beatty -- who happens to be his secretary.​"Hey, Sharon, want to file a lawsuit against Facebook?"We imagine that a conversation that included th ... More >>

Take a Chilling Look Inside the Baseline Killer Case

Grant Woods, a Valley lawyer and former state Attorney General, filed a federal complaint against Facebook this week on behalf of plaintiff Sharon Beatty -- who happens to be his secretary.​"Hey, Sharon, want to file a lawsuit against Facebook?"We imagine that a conversation that included th ... More >>

Coddling Joe: How Do You Collaborate With a Felon?

Grant Woods, a Valley lawyer and former state Attorney General, filed a federal complaint against Facebook this week on behalf of plaintiff Sharon Beatty -- who happens to be his secretary.​"Hey, Sharon, want to file a lawsuit against Facebook?"We imagine that a conversation that included th ... More >>

Andrew Thomas' Logic "Absurd," Says State Bar Counsel in Final Closing Argument; Disbarment Recommended -- Again -- for Former Prosecutors Thomas and Lisa Aubuchon

Andrew Thomas' arguments are "absurd," says the State Bar of Arizona's independent counsel.​ Independent lawyers for the State Bar of Arizona again recommend disbarment for former Maricopa County Attorney Andrew Thomas, referring to his arguments with words like "absurd."Thomas' former sidekic ... More >>