Some sad news to report out of the Maricopa County Superior Court: Judge Pendlelton Gaines, 66, died yesterday after a battle with cancer.Gaines, an 11-year veteran on the bench, was currently assigned to the court’s Criminal Department after serving in both the family and civil courts. Prior to his assignment…
The Arizona Supreme Court delayed a decision yesterday on whether to go forward with setting a date for the execution of convicted murderer Daniel Wayne Cook — but not because of a controversial sedative used in the process, rather, the court is waiting to find out the status of a…
Valley cop shops are asking the public’s help in tracking down the “$60 Bill Bandit,” who authorities say is responsible for a string of bank robberies that occurred in the east Valley over the last few months.The nickname is funny for one reason: the suspect seems to think United States…
Maricopa County Supervisor Fulton Brock, whose wife and daughter each face charges for having sexual relationships with the same underage boy, announced yesterday he is withdrawing his name from the running to become the next chairman of the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors so he can focus on family matters.If…
The 19-year-old Phoenix man accused of murdering his brother and 6-year-old nephew last month isn’t just an alleged drug-dealing murderer, he’s also a student at Arizona State University majoring in construction management, the university’s website shows. And, according to court documents obtained by New Times, Christopher Licon claims to have…
The Phoenix man who led police on multi-jurisdictional chase that ended near Sky Harbor International Airport early this morning assured his girlfriend that “he wasn’t going back to prison.” That was right after he allegedly stabbed her, choked her, beat her head with a rolling pin, and then kidnapped her,…
A homeless man was arrested yesterday after he used two kids to help him in a poorly thought out jewelry heist at a JC Penney store in Phoenix.About 5 p.m. yesterday, 22-year-old Pyne Barlee was arrested at the JC Penney at 1727 West Bethany Home Road in Phoenix. He was…
It seemed only a matter of time, but the uncle of a 6-year-old boy found shot to death in a Phoenix alley last month has been charged with murder and kidnapping for the death of the boy and his father, the suspect’s brother, who was also found shot to death…
A Phoenix man living in the U.S. on a work visa was arrested Saturday for allegedly sexually assaulting a 17-year-old girl in her own backyard, which is an awful thing to do in its own right. Add to the equation that the victim has down syndrome and the awful situation…
Rachel Brock, the 21-year-old daughter of Maricopa County Supervisor Fulton Brock, was released from jail on Friday, two days after being arrested for allegedly having a sexual relationship with the same minor her mother, Susan Brock, is accused of molesting.If you’re not familiar with the Brock family’s twisted affair, click…
Randomly firing bullets into the air as a means of celebration may seem like an incredibly stupid way to ring in the new year, yet people do it — often enough for lawmakers to pass a law that makes doing so a felony.Last week, the Phoenix Police Department, as well…
A Phoenix drug addict was arrested yesterday morning after telling cops to “come and suck it” as he was found naked and masturbating behind a Phoenix motel.About 4:30 a.m. yesterday, cops were called to the Super 8 Motel at 1242 North 53rd Avenue in Phoenix. The night manager told police…
We’re not sure which is more gag-worthy — competing with your own mother for (among other things) a dude’s heart or going down on a 13-year-old boy. Rachel Brock, the 21-year-old daughter of Maricopa County Supervisor Fulton Brock, is alleged to be guilty of both.As we reported earlier, Rachel Brock is…
If you’re gonna be a dumbass and drive drunk on New Years Eve, Governor Jan “drive hammered, get nailed” Brewer’s Office of Highway Safety suggests you don’t do it in the East Valley — it’s gonna be crawling with cops.Governor Glug-Glug’s DUI Task Force will be heavily focused on the…
Good parents might think a grown woman repeatedly bringing their teenage son lunch at school and frequently picking him up might be a bit of a red flag — as did the parents of the alleged victim of Susan Brock, wife of Maricopa County Supervisor Fulton Brock, who’s in jail on…
Honestly, we didn’t think it was possible for a story about a Maricopa County Supervisor’s wife allegedly carrying out a sexual relationship with a 14-year-old boy to get any more strange. But today it did, and now includes code-talking with one of her gal pals about destroying evidence.If you’re unfamiliar…
A 44-year-old Phoenix man who lives with his parents was arrested yesterday after cops discovered he’d been downloading kiddy-porn to the computer at his parents’ house.Earlier this month, cops accessed the IP address for the computer at the home of Kurtis Bruce’s parents and were able to directly download images…
The unprecedented claims filed against Maricopa County by its own top officials have raised fascinating and difficult questions about potential conflicts of interest. We’re not sure this makes it any less difficult: Steven LaMar, a Cave Creek town councilman, is one of the lawyers hired to represent county interests…
Five cars, a fire hydrant, and three landscaped yards. That’s what an Avondale motorist hit on what police describe as a “path of destruction” Friday afternoon.When he was done wreaking havoc on Avondale roadways, 34-year-old Justin Fernandez parked his mangled car in his own garage — with car parts and…
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 rights violations and other injustices by Sheriff Joe Arpaio, former County Attorney Andrew Thomas that were filed by Stapley’s executive assistant,…
The shooting at the Great Alaskan Bush Company strip club on Sunday — one of two strip club shootings over the Christmas weekend — wasn’t the spontaneous work of an angry patron dissatisfied with his lap-dance. The suspect, 28-year-old Gavin Macfarlane, told police it was “part of a plan he…
An alleged Phoenix pervert is behind bars on suspicion of spreading some unwanted Christmas (ahem) cheer — cops say he molested his girlfriend’s 9-year-old daughter as she was lying down next to a Christmas tree. Luis Mejia Ortiz was arrested yesterday after admitting to the girl’s mother — his girlfriend…
