Sheriff Joe Arpaio hit with criminal contempt referral
[su_center_b]
Looks like a certain self-promoting celebrity sheriff just might be sent to the slammer!
A federal judge said Friday that he will refer Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio to the U.S. Attorney’s Office to be charged with criminal contempt of court.
The decision comes after U.S. District Judge G. Murray Snow found that Arpaio intentionally violated various orders rooted in an 8-year-old racial-profiling case.
The ruling additionally refers Chief Deputy Jerry Sheridan, Arpaio’s former defense attorney Michele Iafrate, and Capt. Steve Bailey for criminal contempt prosecution as well.
“Criminal contempt serves to vindicate the Court’s authority by punishing the intentional disregard for that authority,” Snow wrote in his Friday order.
Snow’s decision, announced in a federal court filing, answers the key question looming over what has been more than a year of contempt proceedings: Was the disregard of orders a criminal or civil contempt-of-court violation?
But it creates a whole new set of legal questions for the embattled lawman.
• Will the U.S. Attorney’s Office accept the recommendation?
• What will the charge be?
• If Arpaio is found guilty, will a conviction legally force him to resign?
• Could Arpaio end up behind bars?
• Will Snow’s decision affect his odds for a seventh term?
I guess we’ll have to stay tuned…
[su_revcontent]
[su_facebook]
