Trials

Jodi Arias Trial: The Jury Has Reached a Verdict

UPDATE: Jodi Arias Guilty of First-Degree Premeditated Murder, Jury FindsThe jury has reached a verdict in the murder trial of Jodi Arias.According to a spokesman for the Maricopa County Superior Court, the verdict will be read at 1:30 p.m.See also:-Jury Deciding Arias' Fate-Psycho Killer-Jodi Arias ... More >>

Joe Arpaio Recall Wants Larry Klayman's Bogus Lawsuit Dismissed Sooner, Rather Than Later

Sheriff Joe Arpaio's friends, birther attorneys Larry Klayman and ex-lawmaker David Burnell Smith, are doing Arpaio a solid favor in their bogus lawsuit against Respect Arizona, the group trying to recall the elderly Sheriff.Respect Arizona's legal counsel already told New Times last week that the m ... More >>

Psycho Killer: Jodi Arias' Kinky Death-Penalty Trial

Bill Montgomery Fails to Convict an Innocent Man

Pinal County Judge Dismisses PCSO Lieutenant's Lawsuit Against New Times Over "Camp Titties and Beer" Coverage

A Pinal County judge dismissed a lawsuit against New Times, which had been filed over stories on this blog about a member of Pinal County Sheriff Paul Babeu's command staff apparently trying to scrub an arrest record from a DPS database.PCSO Lieutenant Blake King filed the lawsuit, alleging New Time ... 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 >>

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 >>

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 >>

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 >>

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

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

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 >>

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 >>

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

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 sidekick, Lisa Aubuchon, should also be stripped of her law license, says the 37-page reply (see below) to ... More >>

Coddling Joe: How Do You Collaborate With a Felon?

Take a Chilling Look Inside the Baseline Killer Case

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 >>

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 Scottsdale. But ... 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 >>

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

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 >>

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 >>

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 >>

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 >>

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 >>

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 >>

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

'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 >>

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 >>

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

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 >>

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 >>

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 >>

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

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 >>

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 >>

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 >>

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 >>

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

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 >>

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 >>

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 >>

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 >>

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 >>

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 >>

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 >>

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

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