The first reason why the racketeering lawsuit filed today against county leaders is probably going nowhere: It’s being handled by Lisa Aubuchon, the deputy county attorney who has consistently blown politically sensitive cases for Maricopa County Attorney Andrew Thomas. Under Aubuchon’s leadership, Thomas lost the criminal cases against: Dan Pochoda,…
An indictment was unsealed today in Kansas City, Kansas, that named 20 people involved in a marijuana-distribution ring that has netted more than $22 million over several years, and like many pot-peddling rackets before it, this one originated in Phoenix. The indictment is the result of an 18-month investigation by the Drug Enforcement Agency, the…
Maricopa County Attorney Andrew Thomas ramped up the fight against county leaders on Tuesday, announcing a federal racketeering lawsuit against “leading” judges, the Board of Supervisors, and a private law firm. Thomas’ office just put out a news release about the lawsuit, saying he’ll give more details at a 2…
County leaders want to know: What part of illegal doesn’t Sheriff Joe Arpaio understand? America’s self-described Toughest Sheriff won’t tolerate tamale-selling illegal immigrants, people who honk their horns or costume-wearing political pundits. But, according to Wesley Baysinger, (below) the county’s chief procurement officer, the Sheriff’s Office committed a felony when…
Authorities in seven Arizona cities have been looking for the people responsible for the theft of hundreds of iPhones and other expensive cell phones over the past few months. Today, the Glendale Police Department announced that it has arrested three people in connection with the thefts.Lucky for the three men…
On the mean streets of El Salvador back in the ’90s, a young girl learned how to turn a knife in a victim in order to avoid being covered in a torrent of blood. Now 27, the self-described MS-13 gang member stands accused of putting that skill to use. Mesa…
Phoenix police are looking for the person responsible for torching two cars and a shed in a North Phoenix neighborhood last night…
There’s a cow killer on the loose, and the Humane Society of the United States is offering $2,500 to bring the culprit to justice.The Arizona Game and Fish Department and the Humane Society are looking for the person responsible for murdering a cow at the privately owned Sierra Bonita Ranch…
The Chandler Police Department is looking for a guy who sped off after hitting a man with his car early this morning — an alarming trend here in the Valley of the Sun…
There’s a new bandit in town, and authorities have given him what is possibly the least-cool moniker since the infamous “Salon Bandit.” The Federal Bureau of Investigation is looking for the man it is calling “The First-Aid Bandit.”Don’t let the name fool you, this guy isn’t running around slapping Band-Aids…
Peoria police are looking for the person or persons responsible for robbing the home of a Peoria family. On the list of missing items: The ashes of the family’s dead son. Lindsay Grannis, the child’s mother, says when she came home yesterday afternoon, her garage door was wide open. When…
Back in 1987, cops say, Roger Cook blasted a guy with his .357 Magnum for no good reason. The single bullet killed 22-year-old Terrance Keenan. The young man’s friend, Richard Fair, dodged more shots fired his way by Cook, who was reportedly known in his apartment complex at 617 North Third Avenue…
Maricopa County Attorney Andrew Thomas says the county Board of Supervisors has launched a new lawsuit that aims to “destroy the sanctity of the grand jury.”We haven’t seen the other side of this one yet, but Thomas’ office says the lawsuit filed on Friday in Superior Court seeks to prohibit…
A couple of weeks ago, we heard about a demand letter received by the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office from a local lawyer, Leonard Aragon, concerning the attempted prosecution of County Supervisor Don Stapley.Aragon insisted in his November 2 missive that County Attorney Andrew Thomas repay the money spent on lawyers…
The great wealth amassed by infamous Arizonan Kemper Marley Sr., who died in 1990, has ensured the man’s name will be heard — and seen — for years to come. The guy had ties to the mob and a generally bad reputation (except when it came to making money). He was implicated, though…
Jonathan Antonucci, (at right), one of three suspects in a deadly fire at the Young Champions of America building in Phoenix, pleaded guilty to manslaughter and arson. Like Moniza Murillo, who took a plea in the case a few weeks ago, Antonucci got a break from the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office. The…
Stymied by the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors, County Attorney Andrew Thomas now threatens to conduct the investigation and possible prosecution of Don Stapley in his own office. Again.Remember, the first case against Stapley traveled from Thomas’ office to the Yavapai County Attorney’s Office. Then came the new case, examined briefly…
One of three suspects in a deadly arson fire that destroyed the headquarters of a youth activity firm has pleaded guilty to manslaughter and arson of an occupied structure. Moniza Murillo, 20, (pictured right), had been facing first-degree murder charges along with two other suspects for the June 14…
Colleen Clark, the boozing president of the Maricopa Community College Governing Board, will serve 30 days in jail for her “super-extreme” DUI conviction. The Arizona Republic reported Clark’s sentence a few minutes ago, but we were disappointed to see which photograph the newspaper chose to accompany the article. Instead of…
Maricopa County Attorney Andrew Thomas didn’t suceed at first, so he’s trying again — this time threatening the county Board of Supervisors with legal action unless members consider appointing special prosecutors to conduct an “investigation” of those same supervisors. In a letter sent to the supervisors last night, Thomas’ office demands they put…
Maricopa County Manager David Smith wants to know whether certain employees at the County Attorney’s Office are writing anonymous blog posts and comments. Smith sent a letter today to County Attorney Andrew Thomas and several of his employees, demanding the blog information. He also wants those staff members’ e-mails to and from news media members and…
A Harper College fan who was punched in the face by a Phoenix College football player after a December game is suing the player and the Maricopa County Community College District. Jimmy Lee Renfro of Kansas City, Missouri, had traveled to Phoenix to watch the December 6 game between Harper, an Illinois school, and Phoenix…
