Nothing proves you’re a real man like killing defenseless kittens. Cops are accusing Richard Thomas Routin, 25, of stealing three of his ex-girlfriend’s kitties during a nasty fight, then killing them and dumping their bodies in trash cans. Routin also sexually assaulted the woman in her trailer home during the Easter…
A former political aide for John McCain has put up $2,500 of his own money to counter a medical marijuana inititiative that probably will be be on the 2010 ballot. Max Fose, owner of a political-consulting and PR firm, has apparently been trying to “Stop the Pot” since he launched…
It may seem like Don Stapley’s troubles are about over, but Stapley sure doesn’t think so. The embattled chairman of the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors mailed a new fundraising letter two weeks ago to his friends and acquaintances, begging for big bucks to counter the “frightening amount” he owes…
The Maricopa County Board of Supervisors will waste little time in finding a replacement for County Attorney Andrew Thomas, who announced his resignation yesterday so could run for state Attorney General. The Board released a selection process timeline today with a tentative plan for naming a new county attorney as…
Maricopa County Attorney Andrew Thomas will resign from office on April 6 to run for state Attorney General. Thomas’ campaign consultant, Jason Rose, issued a news release this afternoon about the decision, linking to a video on Thomas’ exploratory committee Web site. The move has long been anticipated, but…
A birthday cake loaded with marijuana buzzed up two inexperienced teens at a north Valley high school this week, sending them to the office with complaints of “strange feelings.” The cake-and-bake incident began at Cactus Shadows High School about 1 p.m. on Wednesday, Scottsdale police say. Two students, ages 16 and 18, told officials…
The stepfather of a girl who went missing in 2001 pleaded guilty on Tuesday to possessing 26 pipe bombs, the U.S. Attorney’s Office reports today. Michael Turney, 62, (right) had reportedly planned to use the bombs to launch a suicide attack on a local union hall with which he had…
It’s really no surprise that Owen “Buz” Mills supports Arizona’s becoming the third state in the country to allow citizens to carry concealed guns without a permit. The candidate for governor calls himself a fiscal and social conservative, and, in sort of a “Who would Jesus shoot?” moment, informs us that the…
Image: Wikimedia Commons Glendale resident Dave Gushert says public safety would be at risk if lawmakers pass a bill that lets most Arizonans pack heat without a permit. The bill, which passed on a 20-10 vote in the Arizona Senate and is headed for likely approval by Governor Janice Brewer, also puts…
Maricopa County quickly followed up on a threat to sue over a $456,000 bus bought by Sheriff Joe Arpaio’s office, launching a lawsuit in federal court today. Yesterday’s 4-1 vote by the Board of Supervisors should have given attorneys more time to negotiate with the bus company, Motor Coach Industries, before a…
An Apache Junction motorcycle dealership will hold a public meeting at 6:30 p.m. tonight to discuss ways to keep the Lost Dutchman Park open during the state budget crisis. Mark LeResche, owner of Superstition Harley-Davidson, says all money raised tonight will be handed over to the Arizona State…
The Maricopa County Board of Supervisors has authorized a lawsuit against a company that sold Sheriff Joe Arpaio’s office a $465,000 bus But county officials still aren’t stating any precise allegations against the company, Motor Coach Industries. The company appears to be little more than a pawn in the ongoing…
Maricopa County is celebrating Earth Hour this year by shutting off “non-essential” lights for one hour at 8:30 p.m. on Saturday. We decided to spend part of our Friday afternoon bugging county officials about this feel-good event, because our past research shows it typically costs governments and big companies more…
After two years under a bogus investigation by Maricopa County Attorney Andrew Thomas and Sheriff Joe Arpaio, state Attorney General Terry Goddard is fighting back with his own investigation. Goddard has launched a probe into Thomas’ questionable acts, the Arizona Republic reported last night. The article doesn’t get specific about what Goddard…
Maricopa County officials can’t sue the Sheriff’s Office for buying a $465,000 bus without their approval, so now they want to sue the bus company. Precisely why Motor Coach Industries would be sued over the internal squabble remains unclear. The county has maintained in this months-long bus battle that Sheriff Arpaio’s office bought the…
Phoenix police caught a disgraced former minister of the First Southern Baptist Church of Phoenix of masturbating at a local adult store, New Times has learned. We reported previously on the March 9 arrest and subsequent resignation of Gordon Christopher, the longtime employee of the 88-year-old Phoenix church; cops have finally released the details. It turns…
A trustee in the bankruptcy of failed real estate player Mark Bosworth is suing the Mormon Church, hoping to get back $100,000 in tithing to give to Bosworth’s creditors. Bosworth, as New Times reported in a May 15, 2008 investigative article, had some success in the Valley’s once-smoking real-estate market before a civil lawsuit exposed his bad…
The claim against Maricopa County by Supervisor Don Stapley, and other similar claims expected to roll in, will be handled outside the county’s “chain of command,” says County Manager David Smith. In response to questions raised by New Times yesterday, Smith agreed that Supervisor Mary Rose Wilcox and other county…
In preparation of filing a legal claim, Maricopa County Superior Court Judge Gary Donahoe is demanding that county officials preserve all evidence related to the investigation against him. A letter from Michael Manning, the local lawyer Donahoe has hired to represent him, states that “it is anticipated that legal action will…
Image: Ray Stern It seems likely that Supervisor Mary Rose Wilcox, (seen here with husband, Earl, and attorney Colin Campbell), will file a claim against the county like Don Stapley did last week. The malicious prosecution claim filed against Maricopa County by Don Stapley, chairman of the county Board of Supervisors,…
A Phoenix firearms dealer once accused of supplying ruthless Mexican drug cartels with guns is suing the state, city of Phoenix and Arizona Attorney General Terry Goddard for malicious prosecution. Last spring, state and federal authorities thought they had nailed George Iknadosian, (right), owner of X-Caliber Guns, for knowingly selling guns to…
To guard against possible conflicts of interest, the Arizona Supreme Court has handed off bar complaints against Maricopa County Attorney Andy Thomas to a Colorado official. John Gleason, regulation attorney for the Colorado Supreme Court’s Office of Attorney Regulation will now have the job of sorting out the various allegations of…
