Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio's criminal-contempt trial delayed until April
A criminal-contempt trial for outgoing Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio, originally scheduled to start Dec. 6, has been delayed until April 4.
Arpaio, who will leave office in January, is accused of violating a federal judge's orders that banned his deputies from enforcing federal immigration law.
Arpaio and three aides already have been found in civil contempt of court, and only the sheriff faces a criminal charge.
Last month, Arpaio's attorneys asked the judge to postpone Arpaio's trial until federal authorities made up their minds on whether they would pursue other criminal charges against the 84-year-old lawman. They asked U.S. District Judge Susan Bolton for a continuance of 120 days from the time the last charge is brought against the sheriff.
In her Tuesday order, Bolton rejected the idea of indefinitely delaying the trial based on possible future charges, but allowed the extra time for Arpaio's attorneys to prepare an adequate defense.
The postponement pushes Arpaio's trial into a new administration, under a new president with personal ties to the embattled sheriff. Arpaio was an early and vocal supporter of President-elect Donald Trump, and it is unclear how his presidency will affect Arpaio's legal outcome. Legal experts have said Trump's federal prosecutors potentially could offer Arpaio a more lenient plea deal or outright extend a pardon.
If he’s convicted, Arpaio could face up to six months in jail.
MORE: The last days of Sheriff Joe Arpaio
Criminal-contempt charges have loomed over Arpaio since 2015. The threat of criminal prosecution became increasingly inevitable after a prolonged series of hearings last year.
A federal judge’s finding of civil contempt came in May 2016, followed by his referral for criminal prosecution in August, followed by the U.S. Department of Justice’s announcement on Oct. 11 that its attorneys would, in fact, prosecute Arpaio. A proposed order initially was submitted by prosecutors Oct. 17.
