Adam Stoddard
The Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office has apparently stopped delivering inmates to the courtroom where a one of its detention officers was caught in an uproar that landed him in jail.
In a statement released late today, Superior Court Judge Lisa Flores said the sheriff’s office has flat-out stopped bringing inmates to her courtroom for their scheduled appearances.
None was delivered Monday or today, Flores said in the statement, causing major delays in ongoing criminal cases. That follows several days last week when the sheriff’s office either delivered inmates more than an hour late or not at all, she said.
The stonewalling comes after sheriff’s detention officer Adam Stoddard was thrown in jail for contempt in an incident where he was caught taking confidential documents from the file of a defense attorney in Flores’ court.
Another judge, Gary Donahoe, ordered Stoddard to apologize for the incident or go to jail. Last week, Stoddard chose the latter. He surrendered to his own agency on Dec. 1 and is being kept in an undisclosed location.
Since his jailing, Maricopa County’s justice system – one of the largest in the nation – has been thrown into a state of chaos, plagued by protests and a likely sickout by Stoddard’s coworkers, as well as bomb threats from a still-unknown source.
Stoddard’s boss, Sheriff Joe Arpaio, has described the detention officer as a “political prisoner” in his own jail. Arpaio’s supporters call Stoddard a victim of the ongoing disputes between the sheriff and other county leaders, including some judges.
The sheriff’s office did not respond to a message seeking comment tonight, but Deputy Chief Dave Trombi told the Phoenix New Times on Monday the agency is short-staffed and having a hard time getting inmates to other courtrooms, too.
“There’s nothing personal going on with Judge Flores – nothing whatsoever,” Trombi told reporter Ray Stern.
Regardless, Flores said she is handing off at least one case to another judge to make sure justice is served on time.
Flores wants someone else to take the case of Antonio Lozano, the man who was being sentenced when Stoddard reached into the attorney’s files. The document Stoddard pulled out was a privileged letter between Lozano and his attorney, Joanne Cuccia.
When the incident took place Oct. 19, Flores called off the sentencing and rescheduled it. Then when the controversy with Stoddard had not been resolved, she was forced to delay it again. Now, with Lozano set for a do-over on Monday, Flores said it would be a good idea for another judge to handle it.
“Not because of any bias or conflict,” Flores wrote in her statement, “but only for the purpose of assuring that the defendant is sentenced as scheduled.”
Similar stories from Heat City
- Showdown likely today between Arpaio, judge over officer who took file
- He’s got guts! Officer Adam Stoddard is on the job today, not in jail
- Arpaio to judge: Fat chance of apology
- Judge orders officer to apologize or face jail for taking attorney’s file
- Judge says he’s walking ‘a line’ with officer who took attorney’s file
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This is ridiculous. Isn't it the Sheriff's job to uphold the law?
[...] to the courts, Arpaio is now apparently refusing to supply inmates to the judge’s courtroom. Heat City has the story: The Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office has apparently stopped delivering inmates to the courtroom [...]
Seriously, what is going on in this county of yours? I thought my rural county in Oklahoma is bad, but Jeez! You guys are making us look like the ACLU.
I know the Sheriff Joe guy is popular, but seriously, how does a guy that routinely gives preferential treatment, defends blatant constitutional violations and intimidates his detractors so thoroughly as to be borderline criminal, get away with this shit?
Seriously?
The duties of a Sheriff in the State of Arizona are pretty simple. I'll include cites, in case any of Arpaio's press monitoring folks need some guidance.
http://law.justia.com/arizona/codes/title11/004...
Arizona Revised Statutes §11-441 Powers and duties
Here are the most important parts of the statute:
A. The sheriff shall:
1. Preserve the peace.
2. Arrest and take before the nearest magistrate for examination all persons who attempt to commit or who have committed a public offense.
3. Prevent and suppress all affrays, breaches of the peace, riots and insurrections which may come to the knowledge of the sheriff.
4. Attend all courts, except justice and municipal courts, when an element of danger is anticipated and attendance is requested by the presiding judge, and obey lawful orders and directions issued by the judge.
5. Take charge of and keep the county jail, including a county jail under the jurisdiction of a county jail district, and the prisoners in the county jail.
Looks like Sheriff Joe wants to add a pile of civil rights cases to his plate now too, since anyone whose case is delayed by these shenanigans has a damned good 6th amendment right to speedy trial case now. I would not be surprised if he judges were forced to start releasing people pretty soon if they are not able to sentence them in a timely manner. Let Sheriff Joe deal with that PR nightmare — criminals being released because he won't get them to trial.
[...] Judge Lisa Flores says the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Department hast stopped bringing inmates into her court for hearings. [...]
[...] Heat City: After officer is jailed, sheriff’s office abandons judge’s … [...]
[...] Judge Lisa Flores says the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Department hast stopped bringing inmates into her court for hearings. [...]
We can not trust our elected officials, cops, judges, or priests. We need to start over.
How did law enforcement become so powerful that they are now openly considering themselves above the law??????
How did law enforcement become so powerful that they are now openly considering themselves above the law??????