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Sheriff Joe Arpaio, Accused of Targeting Latinos, Is Charged With Contempt Sheriff Joe Arpaio, Accused of Targeting Latinos, Is Charged With Contempt
(about 2 hours later)
PHOENIX — Federal prosecutors on Monday charged Sheriff Joe Arpaio of Maricopa County with criminal contempt of court, saying he willfully defied a judge’s orders to stop targeting Latinos — including citizens and legal immigrants — in traffic stops and other law enforcement efforts, behavior the judge said showed a pattern of discriminatory policing.PHOENIX — Federal prosecutors on Monday charged Sheriff Joe Arpaio of Maricopa County with criminal contempt of court, saying he willfully defied a judge’s orders to stop targeting Latinos — including citizens and legal immigrants — in traffic stops and other law enforcement efforts, behavior the judge said showed a pattern of discriminatory policing.
If convicted, Sheriff Arpaio, 84, who has made a name for himself as an unapologetic pursuer of illegal immigrants, could face up to six months in jail. The authorities were still weighing a charge of obstruction of justice, which could carry more severe punishment.If convicted, Sheriff Arpaio, 84, who has made a name for himself as an unapologetic pursuer of illegal immigrants, could face up to six months in jail. The authorities were still weighing a charge of obstruction of justice, which could carry more severe punishment.
Sheriff Arpaio is seeking re-election in November to his seventh term. The most recent poll, taken before prosecutors signaled last week that charges would be filed, put Sheriff Arpaio behind his Democratic challenger, Paul Penzone, a former Phoenix police sergeant.Sheriff Arpaio is seeking re-election in November to his seventh term. The most recent poll, taken before prosecutors signaled last week that charges would be filed, put Sheriff Arpaio behind his Democratic challenger, Paul Penzone, a former Phoenix police sergeant.
Sheriff Arpaio has not backed down. At an event on Saturday, he told reporters, “I am going to fight this. I’m not going to resign like some of my critics want me to do. And I am going to be re-elected, and I will continue serving this county.”Sheriff Arpaio has not backed down. At an event on Saturday, he told reporters, “I am going to fight this. I’m not going to resign like some of my critics want me to do. And I am going to be re-elected, and I will continue serving this county.”
Sheriff Arpaio’s lawyer, Mel McDonald, said that the sheriff would plead not guilty by a court filing and that he hoped to prevail before a jury.Sheriff Arpaio’s lawyer, Mel McDonald, said that the sheriff would plead not guilty by a court filing and that he hoped to prevail before a jury.
The court set a tentative trial date of Dec. 6.The court set a tentative trial date of Dec. 6.
Here are milestones in the long-running case.Here are milestones in the long-running case.
December 2007 A Mexican citizen legally in the United States sued Mr. Arpaio and his Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office deputies, claiming to have been unlawfully detained for nine hours after a traffic stop because of his ethnicity. Others joined the lawsuit, and the allegations were expanded to include several other examples of treatment plaintiffs said unfairly singled out Latinos. DECEMBER 2007 A Mexican citizen legally in the United States sued Mr. Arpaio and his Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office deputies, claiming to have been unlawfully detained for nine hours after a traffic stop because of his ethnicity. Others joined the lawsuit, and the allegations were expanded to include several other examples of treatment plaintiffs said unfairly singled out Latinos.
Judge G. Murray Snow of United States District Court in Phoenix eventually gave the lawsuit class-action status, allowing any Latino stopped by Sheriff Arpaio’s deputies since Jan. 1, 2007, to be represented in the case.Judge G. Murray Snow of United States District Court in Phoenix eventually gave the lawsuit class-action status, allowing any Latino stopped by Sheriff Arpaio’s deputies since Jan. 1, 2007, to be represented in the case.
December 2011 Judge Snow issued a ruling prohibiting the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office from stopping and detaining Latinos based only on the suspicion that they were in the country illegally, and barring deputies from using only such suspicions to report a vehicle’s Latino occupants to the federal immigration authorities. DECEMBER 2011 Judge Snow issued a ruling prohibiting the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office from stopping and detaining Latinos based only on the suspicion that they were in the country illegally, and barring deputies from using only such suspicions to report a vehicle’s Latino occupants to the federal immigration authorities.
June 2012 The Supreme Court upheld one aspect of Arizona’s immigration law, requiring officers to inquire about the immigration status of the people they stop for other reasons. But it overturned provisions that would have allowed officers to arrest people whose only offense was violating federal immigration laws. JUNE 2012 The Supreme Court upheld one aspect of Arizona’s immigration law, which required officers to inquire about the immigration status of the people they stop for other reasons. But it overturned provisions that would have allowed officers to arrest people whose only offense was violating federal immigration laws.
July 2012 A series of discriminatory-policing accusations against Sheriff Arpaio and his deputies were argued during a seven-day trial. An expert witness who analyzed racial and ethnic information culled from traffic stops made by the sheriff’s office concluded that the length of such stops increased by 21 percent to 25 percent if at least one of the people stopped was Latino. JULY 2012 A series of discriminatory-policing accusations against Sheriff Arpaio and his deputies were argued during a seven-day trial. An expert witness who analyzed racial and ethnic information culled from traffic stops made by the sheriff’s office concluded that the length of such stops increased by 21 percent to 25 percent if at least one of the people stopped was Latino.
November 2012 Sheriff Arpaio faced a tough re-election fight. Latinos organized, using the trial to increase voter registration and drum up opposition to him at the polls. In the end, Sheriff Arpaio, who was running for his sixth term, won, though by his narrowest margin ever, six percentage points. NOVEMBER 2012 Sheriff Arpaio faced a tough re-election fight. Latinos organized, using the trial to increase voter registration and drum up opposition to him at the polls. In the end, Sheriff Arpaio, who was running for his sixth term, won, though by his narrowest margin ever, six percentage points.
Judge Snow issued another corrective order, telling the sheriff to implement sweeping changes at his office to prevent discriminatory policing. Among the changes were cameras to record traffic stops, updated training to explicitly define the limits of deputies’ authority and an independent monitor to oversee compliance.Judge Snow issued another corrective order, telling the sheriff to implement sweeping changes at his office to prevent discriminatory policing. Among the changes were cameras to record traffic stops, updated training to explicitly define the limits of deputies’ authority and an independent monitor to oversee compliance.
May 2016 Judge Snow found Sheriff Arpaio and three of his top deputies in civil contempt of court. MAY 2016 Judge Snow found Sheriff Arpaio and three of his top deputies in civil contempt of court.
In a 162-page decision, Judge Snow wrote that for 17 months, Sheriff Arpaio and three of his top deputies purposely ignored his orders, in part because he wanted to maintain his hard-line stance against illegal immigration to score votes among his base of staunch conservative supporters. In a 162-page decision, Judge Snow wrote that for 17 months, Sheriff Arpaio and three of his top deputies purposely ignored his orders, in part because he wanted to maintain his hard-line stance against illegal immigration to attract votes among his base of staunch conservative supporters.
The sheriff’s office wrongfully detained and turned over for deportation at least 157 immigrants during those 17 months, the judge found. All will be compensated by Maricopa County. The case has already cost county taxpayers more than $50 million, The Associated Press has reported.The sheriff’s office wrongfully detained and turned over for deportation at least 157 immigrants during those 17 months, the judge found. All will be compensated by Maricopa County. The case has already cost county taxpayers more than $50 million, The Associated Press has reported.
August 2016 Judge Snow referred Sheriff Arpaio and the top deputies for criminal prosecution, saying, “The court has exhausted all of its other methods to obtain compliance.” AUGUST 2016 Judge Snow referred Sheriff Arpaio and the top deputies for criminal prosecution, saying, “The court has exhausted all of its other methods to obtain compliance.”
October 2016 The criminal case is being handled by another federal judge, Susan R. Bolton, who was selected by lottery. During a status hearing last Tuesday, John D. Keller, a lawyer for the Justice Department, announced that he would file the criminal charges. OCTOBER 2016 The criminal case is being handled by another federal judge, Susan R. Bolton, who was selected by lottery. During a status hearing last Tuesday, John D. Keller, a lawyer for the Justice Department, announced that he would file the criminal charges.
Sheriff Arpaio issued a defiant response. He said the announcement, coming a day before early voting was to start in Arizona, was “no coincidence” and blamed “the corrupt Obama Justice Department” for trying to influence the election.Sheriff Arpaio issued a defiant response. He said the announcement, coming a day before early voting was to start in Arizona, was “no coincidence” and blamed “the corrupt Obama Justice Department” for trying to influence the election.
Meanwhile, a new group called Bazta Arpaio has vowed to mobilize tens of thousands of voters against Arpaio on Election Day.Meanwhile, a new group called Bazta Arpaio has vowed to mobilize tens of thousands of voters against Arpaio on Election Day.