Ex-sheriff Joe Arpaio found guilty of criminal contempt of court

[GMDino]

Joe thought he was above the law?  Color me shocked.

https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation-now/2017/07/31/joe-arpaio-verdict/526253001/

Quote:The immigration policies that elevated former Arizona Sheriff Joe Arpaio to fame were the same that would ultimately lead to his political demise, and now have made him a convicted criminal.



On Monday, U.S. District Judge Susan Bolton found Arpaio, the former Maricopa County, Ariz., sheriff, guilty of criminal contempt of court, finding that he willfully violated a federal judge's order. 


The sentencing phase will begin Oct. 5. Arpaio faces up to six months in confinement, a sentence equivalent to that of a misdemeanor.


Bolton’s ruling follows a five-day June and July trial, in which Department of Justice prosecutors argued that the 85-year-old had intentionally flouted a federal judge’s orders halting Arpaio’s signature immigration round-ups.

In December 2011, amid a long-running racial profiling case, U.S. District Court Judge G. Murray Snow ordered Arpaio’s deputies to stop holding individuals solely on the belief they were in the country illegally. They only were to detain those who were accused of a state crime.


But Arpaio’s deputies continued to do so for at least 17 months thereafter. During the bench trial, witnesses testified that 171 individuals were illegally apprehended and then turned over to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement or to the Border Patrol.

The verdict is a rejection of Arpaio’s defense: That the order was unclear and that, although mistakes had been made, the violations were unintended. Willful intent is required to prove criminal, rather than civil contempt.


"The evidence at trial proves beyond a reasonable doubt and the Court finds that Judge (G. Murray) Snow issued a clear and definite order enjoining Defendant from detaining persons for further investigation without reasonable suspicion that a crime has been or is being committed; that Defendant knew of the order; and that Defendant willfully violated the order by failing to do anything to ensure his subordinates’ compliance and by directing them to continue to detain persons for whom no criminal charges could be filed," Bolton wrote in the ruling. "Because the Court finds that Defendant willfully violated an order of the court, it finds Defendant guilty of criminal contempt."

[Au165]

Guy always thought he was above the law. Glad he is finally getting a reality check.

[GMDino]

(08-01-2017, 09:08 AM)Au165 Wrote: Guy always thought he was above the law. Glad he is finally getting a reality check.

I wish that were true.  He'll just keep appealing until he dies.

[Au165]

(08-01-2017, 09:25 AM)GMDino Wrote: I wish that were true.  He'll just keep appealing until he dies.

I'm okay with that. The stress will catch up with him.

[Vlad]

(08-01-2017, 09:08 AM)Au165 Wrote: Guy always thought he was above the law. Glad he is finally getting a reality check.

No, it's the judge, not Arpaio one who thinks he's above the law.

What law did Arpaio break? He only refused to comply with a judges order to stop enforcing the law.

[GMDino]

(08-01-2017, 05:34 PM)Vlad Wrote: What law did Arpaio break? 

(08-01-2017, 05:34 PM)Vlad Wrote: He only refused to comply with a judges order ...

That is a slight over simplification of the situation.

[Au165]

(08-01-2017, 05:34 PM)Vlad Wrote: No, it's the judge, not Arpaio one who thinks he's above the law.

What law did Arpaio break? He only refused to comply with a judges order to stop enforcing the law.

You understand what contempt is right?

[Benton]

(08-01-2017, 05:34 PM)Vlad Wrote: No, it's the judge, not Arpaio one who thinks he's above the law.

What law did Arpaio break? He only refused to comply with a judges order to stop enforcing the law.

Another Obama appointee?

http://www.phoenixnewtimes.com/news/joe-arpaio-sheriff-guilty-phoenix-9548481

Quote:Arpaio’s attorneys argued that the 85-year-old ex-sheriff delegated responsibility of immigration enforcement to MCSO’s Human Smuggling Unit. Defense attorneys told the court that Arpaio’s subordinates and legal advisers let him down and “dropped the ball” by not articulating the order clearly and not following through on adherence to it.

...
“Not only did defendant abdicate responsibility, he announced to the world and to his subordinates that he was going to continue business as usual no matter who said otherwise,” Bolton wrote in her verdict, released Monday. 

“The evidence shows a flagrant disregard for Judge Snow’s order,” Bolton concluded.

A conservative judge told him to stop while they sorted out the civil rights case (which is not uncommon for a judge to do). Joe repeatedly said he didn't care and was going to enforce the law... then when he got held in contempt tried to lie his way out and say he didn't know his subordinates were still doing it.

Sheriff Joe needs to grow a spine. And some common sense.

[ballsofsteel]

(08-01-2017, 05:46 PM)Benton Wrote: Another Obama appointee?

http://www.phoenixnewtimes.com/news/joe-arpaio-sheriff-guilty-phoenix-9548481


A conservative judge told him to stop while they sorted out the civil rights case (which is not uncommon for a judge to do). Joe repeatedly said he didn't care and was going to enforce the law... then when he got held in contempt tried to lie his way out and say he didn't know his subordinates were still doing it.

Sheriff Joe needs to grow a spine. And some common sense.

I knew it had to be Obama's fault somehow. It doesn't matter though, Drumph will just pardon him.

[Vlad]

(08-01-2017, 05:46 PM)Benton Wrote: Another Obama appointee?

http://www.phoenixnewtimes.com/news/joe-arpaio-sheriff-guilty-phoenix-9548481


A conservative judge told him to stop while they sorted out the civil rights case (which is not uncommon for a judge to do). Joe repeatedly said he didn't care and was going to enforce the law... then when he got held in contempt tried to lie his way out and say he didn't know his subordinates were still doing it.

Sheriff Joe needs to grow a spine. And some common sense.

You bet I looked up the affiliation of both judges, regardless it doesn't invalidate my point.

"While they sorted out the civil rights case?" What "sorting out" of a civil rights case are you referring to?
This story merely states that Arpaio disobeyed a judges order to stop detaining ILLEGAL immigrants unless he had probable cause they broke laws unrelated to immigration....in other words stop enforcing laws already in the books.

On the contrary Joe must have a spine if he refused to comply with a court ruling.

[Au165]

(08-01-2017, 11:34 PM)Vlad Wrote: You bet I looked up the affiliation of both judges, regardless it doesn't invalidate my point.

"While they sorted out the civil rights case?" What "sorting out" of a civil rights case are you referring to?
This story merely states that Arpaio disobeyed a judges order to stop detaining ILLEGAL immigrants unless he had probable cause they broke laws unrelated to immigration....in other words stop enforcing laws already in the books.

On the contrary Joe must have a spine if he refused to comply with a court ruling.

I ask again, do you know what contempt is?

[Benton]

(08-01-2017, 11:34 PM)Vlad Wrote: You bet I looked up the affiliation of both judges, regardless it doesn't invalidate my point.

"While they sorted out the civil rights case?" What "sorting out" of a civil rights case are you referring to?
This story merely states that Arpaio disobeyed a judges order to stop detaining ILLEGAL immigrants unless he had probable cause they broke laws unrelated to immigration....in other words stop enforcing laws already in the books.

On the contrary Joe must have a spine if he refused to comply with a court ruling.

Courts interpret laws. The court asked him to stop doing that aspect of his job long enough for them to do their job. He declined so they used the tool at their disposal to enforce order.

And throwing your subordinates under the bus to save yourself is pretty spineless.

[oncemoreuntothejimbreech]

Just saw Kendall Jenner granted permanent restraining order against a fan.

Pfft.

What law is that fan breaking by violating a judge's court order?

Hilarious.

[*michaelsean*]

(08-03-2017, 12:21 PM)oncemoreuntothejimbreech Wrote: Just saw Kendall Jenner granted permanent restraining order against a fan.

Pfft.

What law is that fan breaking by violating a judge's court order?

Hilarious.

Stalking

[Bengalzona]

Sheriff Joe was very well liked out here (heck, I even voted for him twice), and then it went to his head. He developed a following of sycophants from the far Right and lost track of the common folks. He spent millions of County tax dollars trying to "prove" that Obama wasn't born in the U.S. When the voters came to realize the final tab, they rejected him at the polls last year.

This case never should have gotten as far as it did. He was guilty from the start. It was never even a question. He was blatant about it. But Joe initially funneled county funds for his own defense (another reason he has become rejected out here) and then began getting massive donations from far Right supporters nationally. The entire case was a waste and a joke... and this from someone who was supposed to be a lawman.

All that said, he has helped make the folks out here realize just how loony the far Right can get. That is worth something at least.

[GMDino]

(08-04-2017, 10:40 AM)Bengalzona Wrote: Sheriff Joe was very well liked out here (heck, I even voted for him twice), and then it went to his head. He developed a following of sycophants from the far Right and lost track of the common folks. He spent millions of County tax dollars trying to "prove" that Obama wasn't born in the U.S. When the voters came to realize the final tab, they rejected him at the polls last year.

This case never should have gotten as far as it did. He was guilty from the start. It was never even a question. He was blatant about it. But Joe initially funneled county funds for his own defense (another reason he has become rejected out here) and then began getting massive donations from far Right supporters nationally. The entire case was a waste and a joke... and this from someone who was supposed to be a lawman.

All that said, he has helped make the folks out here realize just how loony the far Right can get. That is worth something at least.

Heard a story on a podcast yesterday about how after "Brown v The Board of Education" was settled that elected officials in the south got more and more racist and won more and more elections they more racist they were while even the mostly slightly moderate got kicked out of office.

Sounds like Joe got the same treatment.

[Bengalzona]

(08-04-2017, 12:00 PM)GMDino Wrote: Heard a story on a podcast yesterday about how after "Brown v The Board of Education" was settled that elected officials in the south got more and more racist and won more and more elections they more racist they were while even the mostly slightly moderate got kicked out of office.

Sounds like Joe got the same treatment.

They say he won't serve a day in jail, and I believe they are right. Maximum sentence would be 60 days. They may not push for jail time. But I wonder if they should. Not so much to see Joe in jail, but to put Trump in the awkward position of having to pardon someone who is clearly guilty just out of sheer cronyism. And Trump will do it.

[Bengalzona]

Sen. Jeff Flake (R - AZ) is in hot water with the Trump crowd right now, which is interesting. Flake has voted along with the Trump crew 93.5% of the time.

Guess 93.5% of the time isn't "good enough", eh.

[Vas Deferens]

(08-04-2017, 06:21 PM)Bengalzona Wrote: Sen. Jeff Flake (R - AZ) is in hot water with the Trump crowd right now, which is interesting. Flake has voted along with the Trump crew 93.5% of the time.

Guess 93.5% of the tie isn't "good enough", eh.

Is he the one that just wrote the book about conservative values?

[Bengalzona]

(08-04-2017, 06:28 PM)Vas Deferens Wrote: Is he the one that just wrote the book about conservative values?

He is, which is another reason he is on the outs with the Trump crew.