Arizona Sheriff Joe Arpaio to face criminal charge
Post# of 51876
Posted On: 10/15/2016 5:39:50 PM
Arizona Sheriff Joe Arpaio to face criminal charges
Phoenix – The future of Joe Arpaio was under discussion Tuesday at the federal courthouse in the Arizona capital, where federal prosecutors revealed that they plan to file criminal contempt charges against the controversial Maricopa County sheriff even as he campaigns for another term.
Arpaio, 84, will face prosecution for defying a 2011 federal court order prohibiting his office from trying to enforce federal immigration law.
The Department of Justice is proceeding against Arpaio based on a criminal referral issued in August by U.S. District Judge G. Murray Snow, who concluded that the self-proclaimed "toughest sheriff in the west" willfully violated court orders.
The case arose from complaints from a Mexican tourist and several U.S. Hispanics about racial profiling by personnel under Arpaio's command.
U.S. District Judge Susan Bolton, who presided over Tuesday's hearing in Phoenix, instructed DoJ attorney John Keller to provide her on Wednesday with a show-cause letter that will form the basis of the charging document.
Bolton set a tentative trial date of Dec. 6 and ruled that due to Arpaio's advanced years, the maximum sentence he will face is six months.
The sheriff's attorney, Melvin McDonald, told EFE after the hearing that he and his client will wait to see the DoJ's arguments before formulating a response.
Arpaio has no intention of pleading guilty and will insist on a jury trial, the lawyer said as some 150 people protested against the sheriff outside the courthouse.
"We are seeing that the case against Arpaio continues to advance and that he will have to face justice," attorney and activist Daniel Ortega told EFE.
Phoenix – The future of Joe Arpaio was under discussion Tuesday at the federal courthouse in the Arizona capital, where federal prosecutors revealed that they plan to file criminal contempt charges against the controversial Maricopa County sheriff even as he campaigns for another term.
Arpaio, 84, will face prosecution for defying a 2011 federal court order prohibiting his office from trying to enforce federal immigration law.
The Department of Justice is proceeding against Arpaio based on a criminal referral issued in August by U.S. District Judge G. Murray Snow, who concluded that the self-proclaimed "toughest sheriff in the west" willfully violated court orders.
The case arose from complaints from a Mexican tourist and several U.S. Hispanics about racial profiling by personnel under Arpaio's command.
U.S. District Judge Susan Bolton, who presided over Tuesday's hearing in Phoenix, instructed DoJ attorney John Keller to provide her on Wednesday with a show-cause letter that will form the basis of the charging document.
Bolton set a tentative trial date of Dec. 6 and ruled that due to Arpaio's advanced years, the maximum sentence he will face is six months.
The sheriff's attorney, Melvin McDonald, told EFE after the hearing that he and his client will wait to see the DoJ's arguments before formulating a response.
Arpaio has no intention of pleading guilty and will insist on a jury trial, the lawyer said as some 150 people protested against the sheriff outside the courthouse.
"We are seeing that the case against Arpaio continues to advance and that he will have to face justice," attorney and activist Daniel Ortega told EFE.
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