The Department of Justice this afternoon sent a letter to attorneys representing the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office in response to demands Sheriff Joe Arpaio made earlier this month regarding evidence the feds claim to have that shows the MCSO is guilty of the worst racial-profiling practices in U.S. history.The sheriff’s…
An inmate at the Durango Jail died last night — and it wasn’t at the hands of a Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office detention officer, according to the MCSO.MCSO Officer Chris Hegstrom tells New Times the death is being investigated as a “natural causes death.”Hegstrom says he won’t identify the dead…
As predicted, former state Senator Kyrsten Sinema’s not the only Democrat with her eye on Arizona’s new Congressional seat — this morning, state Senate Minority Leader David Schapira announced that he, too, will run in Arizona’s newly formed 9th Congressional district.Schapira’s announcement isn’t exactly a surprise to those familiar with…
There’s good news and bad news…The good news: the Scott Bundgaard freeway fight fiasco is finally over. The bad news: he might be replaced by state Representative Judy Burges — one of the first sponsors of Arizona’s humiliating “Birther Bill,” and the author of the “I didn’t pay enough fund”…
It’s baaaaack!Remember last year when the Arizona Legislature passed the infamous “Birther Bill?” And then Governor Jan Brewer — in a rare moment of sanity — vetoed it? Well, an amended version of the bill is heading to the Legislature — compliments of Republican state Representative Carl Seel.In case you…
Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio — at 79 years old — has made it clear that despite being youthfully challenged, he plans to run for another four-year term as sheriff.The good news is he already has two potential opponents: Scottsdale Lieutenant Mike Stauffer, who’s been actively campaigning for Arpaio’s job…
Good news, Valley Fever-ers: You can “like” us now.Valley Fever has officially joined the 21st century with the addition of its own Facebook page.New Times already has a Facebook page for the publication as a whole. However, if all you’re after is news, our new “Bastard Fever” Facebook page will…
To quote Clark W. Griswold, if we woke up tomorrow with our heads sewn to the carpet, we wouldn’t be more surprised than we were when we got a Christmas note from America’s self-proclaimed “toughest sheriff” applauding us for all the great work we do. Granted, we just got it…
Carl Mosher, a former physical education teacher at St. Gregory’s Catholic school in Phoenix, was in Maricopa County Superior Court this morning where he was sentenced to 27 years in prison for having sex with a 14-year-old student…in his office…at the school.Additionally, Judge Daniel Martin sentenced Mosher to lifetime probation.Mosher…
Arizona’s GOP presidential primary, like New Hampshire’s, will likely be another race for second place — according to a recently released poll, former Massachusetts Governor (and one-time Joe Arpaio butt-smoocher) Mitt Romney has a double-digit lead over each of his opponents in the “Colt Single-Action Army Revolver” state.The poll, conducted…
State Representative Kimberly Yee wants to add possessing a bong to the list of things kids in Arizona aren’t allowed to do.Yee introduced House Bill 2034, which would make it illegal for kids under 18 to possess a hookah, bong, water pipe, and anything else that’s intended for “tobacco use…
A convicted child molester — who once was “mentored” by Republican state Representative Jim Weiers — was in Maricopa County Superior Court this morning, where he was sentenced to some pretty serious prison time.Judge Peter Reinstein sentenced Arthur Vitasek to 559 years in prison after he was convicted of multiple…
Democratic state Senator Steve Gallardo plans this week to introduce a bill into the Arizona Legislature that would repeal SB 1070, Arizona’s controversial immigration law.To quote our colleague Stephen Lemons, the Arizona Legislature repealing SB 1070 is “about as likely as me running a 5K.”The Legislature’s biggest bigot got the…
The Mesa Police Department tells New Times that no charges will be filed against a 7-year-old boy who accidentally fired a loaded gun on a school bus full of children last week — and there’s a reason: he’s only friggin’ seven!In case you missed it, the boy brought a loaded…
Say what you will about 25-year-old Taylor Thornberry and his extensive collection of kiddie-porn, but at least he’s organized — his tens-of-thousands of images and videos of (ahem) child erotica are organized into three categories: “good,” “better,” and “the best.”How do we know this? Well, he was arrested Tuesday after…
There could be a new horse in the race to become the next sheriff of Maricopa County — retired Phoenix Sergeant/Nancy Grace suck-up Paul Penzone has filed paperwork with the Maricopa County Recorder’s Office to set up an exploratory committee for a potential run to unseat Sheriff Joe Arpaio.Arpaio –…
A Phoenix man who spent a good portion of 2011 stalking his ex-girlfriend was in Maricopa County Superior Court this morning where he pleaded not guilty to one count of arson, one count of stalking, and six counts of aggravated harassment.Since July, Phoenix police have received at least 33 reports…
If your marriage includes some (ahem) extracurricular activities with someone who isn’t your spouse, you’re not just a cheater — according to Arizona law — you’re also a criminal.That’s right, cheating on your spouse is a misdemeanor in Arizona — and a Glendale man actually used the statute as grounds…
Following the resignation of former state Senator Scott Bundgaard over the scuffle he got into with his former girlfriend on the side of a Valley freeway — and the legislative fiasco that followed — Democratic state Senator Steve Gallardo says he plans to introduce a bill that would do away…
Where to start…Well, the good news is there’s an outside chance that Thurman McGriff didn’t actually get a blowjob from a puppy. However, according to police, at the very least, he whipped out his penis in public and simulated oral sex, using the pooch’s mouth as the (ahem) pleasure center,…
Just days after Pinal County Sheriff Paul Babeu announced he’s running for Congress in Arizona’s fourth district, Republican state Senator Ron Gould announced that he, too, is entering the race. “After talking to residents of Arizona’s Fourth Congressional District during my exploratory phase, one thing has become clear, ” Gould…
A federal judge in Kentucky has a set a trial date for the defamation lawsuit a Cincinnatti Bengals cheerleader filed against Scottsdale’s own Hooman Karamian, a.k.a. “Nik Richie,” of The Dirty (ahem) fame.U.S. District Judge William Bertelsman set a June 4 trial date for the lawsuit, which claims “Richie” and…
