I really don’t know what to make of this. Apparently the Judge who recently found Maricopa Deputy Adam Stoddard in contempt of court, and ordered him to report to jail, has been charged with three felony counts by Maricopa County Attorney Andrew Thomas.
But today’s announcement that Donahoe now faces felony charges — when the only evidence of “wrongdoing” on the judge’s part is a series of rulings that Thomas and Arpaio vehemently disagree with — is unprecedented even in Maricopa County.
Donahoe also is the same judge who ordered detention officer Adam Stoddard to jail last week for swiping a defense attorney’s notes — drawing Sheriff Joe’s ire.
Even the Valley’s usually compliant press corps seemed incredulous with the announcement of criminal charges against the highly respected Donahoe, who is retiring from the bench in the near future.
Read the whole Phoenix New Times article here. Please remember, in the interest of fairness, the Phoenix New Times and Sheriff Joe Arpaio DO NOT get along.
What do YOU think? Coincidence, or something more? All I know is if Joe Arpaio runs for Governor (and he’d win, have no doubts), it could seriously change the political climate in Arizona — and in a lot of ways, probably for the better.
