| The trial of Dr. Bradley Schwartz will commence with jury selection on February 28, 2006 before the Honorable Nannette Warner in Pima County Superior Court. Sylvia Lafferty and Richard Platt, both experienced homicide prosecutors, will represent the State in the case. The trial is expected to last four to six weeks.
| 2/21/2006 | | Pinal County IT Director Genene Walker has authorized the creation and implementation of a new website for the County Attorney's Office specifically for purposes of updating events related to the Bigger-Schwartz homicide case being tried in Pima County. "We were glad to be able to assist," noted Walker. "We're all here trying to provide excellent service to the public and this is one more example of carrying that mission forward."
| 2/22/2006 | | FLORENCE- Oracle resident James P. Walsh will take over the reigns of the County Attorney's Office from Carter Olson, who has resigned to take a seat on the Pinal County Superior Court. A five member citizens screening committee recommended Walsh to the Supervisors after a two week review of qualifications and an interview. William McLean, a member of the screening committee, said the County received only one application for the position. It was determined by the committee that Walsh had the appropriate qualifications to take over the County Attorney's office. The qualifications include being a lawyer in good standing with the Arizona State Bar and a registered Democrat (since Olson was elected as a Democrat to the office). "I tell you that application is from an individual who has just an incredible background," McLean said. "It is with a great deal of pride on behalf of our committee that I recommend James P. Walsh for the position." Walsh has worked for Arizona Attorney General Terry Goddard since 2003 as Chief Deputy. He also has experience supervising and managing a public law firm in civil and criminal practice. Outgoing County Attorney Olson also recommended Walsh to the position as he took the dais with the Supervisors. Olson said there are two questions that surface when recommending a person for the job-"Do they have the will and the qualifications," he rhetorically asked. The County Attorney explained that the job entails long hours and great stress. "It is much to ask anyone to take on this important responsibility," he said. In summing up his recommendation, Olson said: "What stands before you is an extraordinary candidate in James P. Walsh. In all humility, better qualified to take on this position than I was 11 years ago when I was appointed by this body to the County Attorney position. But the challenges now are much greater than 11 years ago-the challenges are much more complex." Following the recommendations, the Supervisors unanimously approved the appointment of Walsh as the new County Attorney. He will take over the position when Olson is sworn in to the Superior Court on Friday, May 18. Following his appointment as County Attorney, Walsh said he looks forward to tackling the job and does not plan any major changes in the office. "This is an experienced office," Walsh replied. "Stability and continuity are two of the most important things you want in an office such as this, especially with all the changes that are going on in this county."
| 5/4/2007 | | James P. Walsh, Pinal County Attorney, has announced the consolidation of several programs into a new Community Services Division. This division, which was approved by the Pinal County Board of Supervisors, will build upon the variety of services currently offered by the County Attorney’s Office and establish an improved connection to the citizens of Pinal County. The new division includes Victim Advocacy, Victim Notification, the Bad Check Program, and Diversion Services. These programs, all providing services to businesses, victims and citizens, will be further enhanced by Walsh’s office restructure. Mary Jane Damron has been named the new director. Ms. Damron has directed the Criminal Diversion Unit for several years and is a veteran of the Pinal County Attorney’s Office. “By combining these programs into one Division our office will be more responsive to the people of Pinal County” said Walsh. These services are aimed at helping citizens and merchants deal with being victims of crimes, recovering restitution from a bad check, or a simple theft, and assisting victims with their legal rights. Walsh also announced that the victim services component of the Community Services Division will be comprised of Victim Advocacy and Victim Notification. Tawnya Cude, an experienced current employee, has been appointed the Manager of Victim Notification. A new manager for Victim Advocacy will be the subject of a statewide search. James P. Walsh was appointed the County Attorney in May by the Pinal County Board of Supervisors. If you would like more information about the services offered above, please contact the Pinal County Attorney’s office at (520) 866-6813 or 1-800-208-6897 extension 6813 or visit our web page at www.co.pinal.az.us/attorney.
| 6/13/2007 | | FLORENCE- Ms. Ellie Brown of Oracle has been hired as the Administrative Director of the Pinal County Attorney's Office. She began work on Monday, August 13, 2007. Ms. Brown will be responsible for the administrative services of the office which supports the activities of the various divisions. The office currently has 130 employees and administers a budget in excess of $12 million. "We are pleased to have Ellie join us and feel that she will be an extremely valuable addition to the office," said County Attorney James P. Walsh. "Her experience and education combined with her intimate knowledge of the workings of county government make her uniquely qualified to be our Administrative Director." Ms. Brown is a long time resident of Oracle and formerly served as the Justice of the Peace in the Oracle Precinct. She has been employed by Pinal County in various capacities since 1991, and is very familiar with county procedures and personnel. Her experience will be of great value in co-coordinating the activities of the County Attorney's Office with the county administration and in dealing with the courts and other state agencies. Most recently Ellie has served as liaison for limited jurisdiction courts for the Pinal County Superior Court. She received a Bachelor of Science Degree in Administration and Management from the University of Phoenix, and her Master's Degree in Educational Leadership from Northern Arizona University. She is also a Certified Public Manager and serves on the Board of the Pinal County Chapter of Certified Public Managers. Ellie is married to Steve Brown and has three children and two grandchildren. She enjoys playing the piano, softball and reading. She is a member of Oracle Softball League, St. Helen's Choir, the Eastern Pinal County Domestic Violence Coalition, the Restorative Justice Panel, and the Oracle Firewise Committee
| 8/20/2007 | | FLORENCE- The Pinal County Attorney's Office has requested clarification from the Pima County Medical Examiner's Office concerning the findings in the autopsy report for Amber Hess. Until the requested clarification is received, no additional charging decisions will be made.
| 8/21/2007 | | FLORENCE – On October 5, 2004, Tucson residents were shocked to learn of the brutal murder of a pediatric eye doctor in the parking lot of the medical complex where he worked. The well-liked husband and father of two built a successful practice caring for children. Then Dr. Brian Stidham was found in his office parking lot with a fractured skull and brutally stabbed 15 times. His car was missing. At first, it looked like a vicious but random carjacking. Later Tucsonans would learn a far darker story. One colored by deceit, torrid love affairs, rage, jealousy, narcotic drug use and a stunning murder-for-hire scheme. On Saturday, the National District Attorneys Association presented its highest honor to Pinal County Chief Criminal Deputy County Attorney Richard Platt and Deputy County Attorney Sylvia Lafferty. Platt and Lafferty are the latest inductees in the "Home Run Hitter's Club" for successfully prosecuting Stidham's murderer and a co-conspirator. Dr. Bradley Schwartz, conspired to have his former business partner, Dr. Stidham, killed by a hit man. Thanks to the tireless efforts of Platt and Lafferty, Schwartz was convicted of conspiracy to commit murder and is now serving a 25 year to life sentence. Schwartz' hired hit man, Ronald Bruce Bigger, who ambushed and stabbed Dr. Stidham 15 times, is serving a life sentence without the possibility of parole. Bigger was convicted of first degree murder and conspiracy to commit first degree murder. The investigation uncovered conflicts of interest among attorneys in the Pima County Attorney's Office. The case was prosecuted by Pinal County after several Pima County Deputy Attorneys found themselves fired or disciplined for conflicts of interest. Publicity and media interest ran high throughout the investigation and the grueling 19 weeks of trial. Lafferty and Platt interviewed 184 witnesses and called on 144 witnesses during the trials. Hundreds of exhibits were introduced and more than 30,000 pages of documents were disclosed before and during the trial. Court TV covered the case, along with several daily newspapers and television media. Both trials were featured on the CBS program "48 Hours – Mystery." Numerous motions were filed as the case wound its way through the justice system and there were multiple hearings on the admissibility of evidence such as DNA tests. Conflicting testimony from expert witnesses and witness credibility issues including schizophrenia, drug addiction, gang involvement and felony convictions made the prosecution extremely difficult. Pinal County Attorney James P. Walsh noted the tremendous personal sacrifices involved in prosecuting such a complex case. "No matter how dedicated you are, a trial this complex and emotionally exhausting takes its toll on you and those around you, especially your family," Walsh said. "The attorneys deal daily with the vivid realities of a murder and the sordid details of a criminal's life. In this particular case, the whole community was dealing with the cruel loss of a beloved family man and respected doctor." Pima County Attorney Barbara LaWall nominated Richard Platt and Sylvia Lafferty for the "Home Run Hitter" honor. According to its website, the National District Attorneys Association "annually inducts a select few prosecutors into the Home Run Hitters Club, to recognize their outstanding work in trying complicated and difficult high profile cases." This is not the first major recognition for Platt and Lafferty. Last year they were named Felony Prosecutors of the Year by the Arizona Prosecuting Attorneys' Advisory Council. "I was proud to nominate Richard Platt and Sylvia Lafferty for the National District Attorneys Association Home Run Hitters Award," LaWall said. "Their performance on behalf of Pima County was truly outstanding. I am proud that Arizona prosecutors worked together to ensure public safety throughout our state." Other recent honorees include Tom Sneddon, the Santa Barbara County district attorney who prosecuted the Michael Jackson case; and James Brazleton, the Stanislaus County district attorney who prosecuted Scott Peterson for the murder of his wife.
| 12/5/2007 | | CENTRAL ARIZONA COLLEGE - In 1990, then Pinal County Attorney Gilbert Figueroa began a small art contest in local schools to find out who could draw the best anti-drug message. The contest was named in memory of former Pinal County Superior Court Judge Robert R. Bean who had recently succumbed to cancer. The best pictures were placed in a month-to-month calendar with the 12 best drawings featured. The idea was to have children show their peers the dangers of drug use. Seventeen years later, the tradition continues, albeit with some minor modifications to the original month-to-month calendar format. On Thursday, December 13, County Attorney James P. Walsh kept the contest alive and well by honoring finalists, their families and teachers at a ceremony to unveil the poster-sized 2008 Anti-Drug Calendar poster. "This contest is open to all sixth graders in Pinal County," the County Attorney said. "Over 500 entries were received and a panel of judges narrowed the field to 60 finalists. Once those were chosen the real work began since all the artwork was very impressive." Walsh said that the panel of nine judges culled the 60 finalists to 9 winners with a grand prize winner, a T-shirt winner and a Tattoo winner. T-shirts featuring the anti-drug message and temporary tattoos will help spread the anti-drug message among impressionable young people. "I'm glad I wasn't a member of the judging panel," County Attorney Walsh joked. "It was a difficult decision." Speaking before a group of student finalists and their parents in Central Arizona College's Pence Auditorium, Walsh congratulated those who made the final cut. "Your work will be there for all to see," stressed Walsh. "Your art may give one of your friends the courage to say 'no' to drugs. As Alexa from Thunder Mountain Middle School says on her drawing: With drugs the only winners are losers. Well, none of you are losers." The guest speaker of the night was State Senator Rebecca Rios (D-District 23). With two young children of her own, Senator Rios says she understands the stresses the students face each day at school and with their friends. She related a story about a family member who passed away at a very young age by "huffing" drugs. Rios told the students that one action resulted in a death that changed their family forever. Senator Rios also brought up a childhood experience where she won a contest in school with a drawing of a Christmas tree. Looking at the students, Rios said "What you are doing here is very significant. What I did was draw a Christmas tree. You are doing something much more profound. I urge you to continue to share your anti-drug message." The nine students whose artwork is on the 2008 design were photographed with County Attorney Walsh at the McFarland Courthouse and State Park in Florence. The group photo is in the center of the poster with the winning drawings arranged around the photograph. Walsh said 12,000 posters were made and will be distributed to Pinal County schools and businesses. This year's grand prize winner was John Bribiescas, a sixth grader from Mammoth Elementary School. Bribiescas' art teacher, Valerie Rickert, received a check for $500.00 for classroom supplies. Second place went to Alvaro Alvarez from Mammoth Elementary School and third place went to Isaiah O. Iguado from Red Rock Elementary School. All nine artists whose drawings appear on the 2008 calendar will be treated to a field trip to the Challenger Space Center at the Tucson Air and Space Museum, along with their classmates.
| 12/14/2007 | | The Pinal County Attorney's Office has completed the review of what has become known as the Florence desert party case, involving allegations of sexual misconduct at a desert party outside of Florence, Arizona on October 27, 2007. As a result of that review, the Pinal County Attorney has made a decision not to file criminal charges against any of the participants in the event. Prosecutors may only file criminal cases when they are able to prove all elements of a crime beyond a reasonable doubt. Based on the investigation conducted by the Florence Police Department, the office believes that it would be unable to meet that burden of proof at trial.
| 12/17/2007 | | FLORENCE- In Wednesday's Board meeting, the Supervisors approved the appointment of Michelle Krstyen as Chief Deputy of the County Attorney's Child Support Division. Krstyen, a 13 year employee with the County Attorney's Office, has spent all of her career with the Child Support Division. She was named Bureau Chief in 1999 after working as an attorney for the Division since her employment began in 1994. County Attorney James P. Walsh was satisfied with the Supervisors decision. "I am very pleased that the Board of Supervisors has recognized the important role played by the leader of the Child Support Division by creating a new Chief Deputy position and approving my choice of Michelle Krysten to that post," County Attorney Walsh said. "Michelle and the Child Support Division have been doing outstanding work and last year collected almost $18 million in child support for Pinal County residents." In October 2006, Krstyen was recognized with a Congressional Certificate of Special Recognition for Outstanding and Invaluable Service to the Community. Since 1999, the Pinal County child support collections have gone from $7.9 million to an expected $20 million in 2008. "Child support services are available to anyone who lives in Pinal County," Krstyen said. "As a single parent, I appreciate how hard it is to raise children, go to school and work. I can think of no better way to serve the people of this County than by working in the Child Support Division." Krstyen added that if anyone has questions about child support in Pinal County, please call the information line at 520-866-6615.
| 12/21/2007 | | FLORENCE- Pinal County Superior Court Judge, Stephen McCarville, sentenced Jeremy Dean Garcia, aged 37, of Apache Junction, to 133 years in prison following his conviction for numerous counts of Child Molestation and Sexual Abuse. Under the terms of the sentence, the defendant will have to serve 102 years day for day, and as to the remaining 31 years, he will have to serve eight-five percent (85%) before he is eligible for release. Garcia was convicted after a four day jury trial on October 26, 2007. The case involved conduct with several minors over a period starting in 2000 and continuing through 2006. Victims made separate disclosures to authorities over a one year period of time. The crimes occurred in Apache Junction. The trial, held in October, 2007, lasted four days and resulted in convictions for nineteen out of twenty-six counts. County Attorney, James P. Walsh, stated: "This case was exceedingly difficult from both a factual and investigative standpoint.. Deputy County Attorney, Craig Raymond, assisted by Deputy County Attorney, Jill Sosin, did an excellent job of pulling this case together and trying it. They are to be commended for both their tenacity and their trial presentation under difficult circumstances."
| 1/4/2008 | | The Pinal County Attorney's Family Advocacy Center will again be aided by the Coolidge Cotton Days Biker Run. The Center, located in Toltec, is dedicated to reducing stress among children who are the victims of crime while they are going through the investigative process. Opened in March of 2005, the Center houses detectives, forensic interviewers, child protective workers, and other professionals involved in investigating cases of abuse and molestation of children. This multidisciplinary approach avoids having to take children from one agency to another but lets them remain in a safe and comfortable environment. In 2007 the Center served 572 children who would have otherwise had to have been transported to either Maricopa or Pima County. This is a substantial increase over 2006 when 317 children were seen at the Center. "The welfare of the children and their families is our highest concern. But the Center also saves substantial time and costs for local law enforcement as well as for parents who receive services in our community rather than in another county," said James P. Walsh, Pinal County Attorney. The Family Advocacy Center will have a display table on Saturday, February 23, 2008, near the registration area for the Biker Run. The public is invited to come by the booth and learn more about the Family Advocacy Center. A check will be presented to the Center at a later date. Last year's donation was used to provide clothing, food and toys for the children. "I am grateful to the Coolidge Chamber of Commerce and the Biker Run for their generosity," said Walsh. "Their support of these children and families enduring traumatic experiences is exemplary."
| 2/14/2008 | | FLORENCE - On Friday, February 22, Civil Deputies from several Arizona counties arrived in Florence for the quarterly meeting of the State Civil Deputies Association. Pinal County Attorney James P. Walsh provided welcoming comments to the group. "Since Florence is centrally located in Arizona, we host the meeting occasionally," Pinal County's Chief Civil Deputy Chris Roll said. "Other counties host it as well." Twenty attorneys were on hand for the Friday meeting and others were in attendance by telephone. While the County Attorney is one of the main faces of law enforcement throughout Arizona, the Civil Deputies serving under them have a significant role in the County's legal process. "Civil Deputies represent the County Board of Supervisors and elected officials, county departments, special districts and school districts," Roll explained. Roll is frequently seen at the Pinal County Board of Supervisors meeting offering legal advice on issues throughout the session. "This group was set up to provide an opportunity to discuss current topics and issues for civil attorneys," Roll stated. "It is really a working forum for exchanging ideas and also provides an educational opportunity for us." One of the items on the agenda for the attorney's was a legislative update from Craig Sullivan who is the director of the County Supervisors Association. While the legislature has been in session for just over a month, the information was plentiful on bills moving through the House and Senate. "It's always helpful to hear what is transpiring at the State Capitol," said Chris Keller, Chief Civil Deputy for Maricopa County and co-chair of the organization. "It gives us the 'big picture' of what will affect the counties as a whole. There are many different dynamics going on at the state level, the update helps us see where certain things are heading." For many attorneys attending the quarterly meeting, the meeting is a chance to share ideas and learn what may be heading their way when it comes to legal issues facing counties and their officials. "This meeting is important because it helps all of us learn about issues that affect other counties," Keller said. "While a particular issue being presented may not apply to you or your jurisdiction right now, you may be seeing it in the future. It's important to learn how another county handled an issue so you may be prepared to address it when it comes your way." Karen Friar, Chief Civil Deputy from Pima County says the group is very important for the educational aspect it gives the attorneys. "A lot of what we discuss relates directly to the County as an organization. There is no other forum that provides such specific detail on current affairs and offers important educational opportunities," Friar added. By participating in the quarterly meeting, attorneys can earn Continuing Legal Education (CLE) credits which are required to maintain their membership in the Arizona Bar Association. Attorneys must earn 15 CLEs per year.
| 2/22/2008 | | | 6/5/2007 | | Pinal County Attorney, James P. Walsh, and Sheriff Chris Vasquez, working with local law enforcement agencies have begun a program for safe disposal of unused prescription drugs. They are setting up a series of collections around the County where citizens can bring these drugs in for safe disposal. The drugs will be collected and destroyed in a safe manner by the Sheriff’s Department.
A collection point will be set up at the PolarFest Celebration on December 13. 2008, at the Walker Butte School. The hours will be from 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Most of us have been to the doctor and been given a prescription which we did not completely use. These drugs accumulate in our homes and medicine chests where they are basically forgotten.
These drugs are now becoming a threat to both the environment and our children. When they are flushed into the sewer they get into the water table where they eventually may wind up in our drinking water. Several studies around the country have found traces of these drugs in the water supply.
Another threat from these drugs arises when teenagers or younger children get access to them. Many of them feel that these drugs will be safe to take because a doctor has prescribed them. Certainly, a doctor would not prescribe something which is not safe to take. They do not understand that there are serious interactions when these drugs are taken which can have serious, if not fatal, consequences. In fact one teenager in Pinal County has died from taking these prescription drugs.
Young people are having “Pharm Parties” or “Skittles Parties” (named for pharmaceuticals and because mixed up the drugs resemble the Skittles candy) in which they all pour the drugs they have obtained into a bowl and then each takes a handful of the mixed drugs. They then take the mixture of random drugs which they have pulled out.
The source of these drugs is the prescriptions which we did not finish and which are readily available to the youth in our homes. Even when we throw them into the trash they are available to those who pick through the trash for drugs and identifying information about us. The trash normally goes to a landfill which repeats the problem of the drugs percolating into the water supply. | 11/12/2008 | | Florence, AZ – The Pinal County Attorney’s Office along with the Mammoth Police Dept. and the Sheriff’s Office would like to see all unused, left over or expired prescription drugs out of people’s cabinets and away from our children and our ground water.
Please bring your unused prescriptions to the Mammoth Police Department, located at 125 N. Clark Street, on Saturday, Nov. 22, 2008, between 9:00 a.m. and 12:00 p.m. Officers and Deputies will be standing by to collect the drugs which will then be destroyed by the Sheriff’s Department in a safe and legal manner.
Left over prescription drugs are in all of our cabinets. They come from prescriptions which we did not finish when we were sick. Some of these are seriously out of date and others are narcotics which should not be lying around.
One of the serious problems among our youth is the misuse of prescription drugs. These are normally obtained from left over drugs in parent’s medicine cabinets. Teens will mix these drugs without knowing that mixing some of them can be dangerous and sometimes fatal.
Another problem is with adults who either do not pay attention or who are confused and accidentally take the wrong drug. This, also, can have serious consequences.
These left over medications need to be disposed of. However, we do not want people to flush them into the water table or to throw them in the trash where they can be recovered by children or others.
For more information call Kostas Kalaitzidis at 520 866 6699 or 520 709 1333 or email at Kostas.kalaitzidis@pinalcountyaz.gov | 11/14/2008 | | Florence, AZ – The Pinal County Attorney’s Office along with the Oracle Fire Department and the Sheriff’s Office would like to see all unused, left over or expired prescription drugs out of people’s cabinets and away from our children and our ground water.
Please bring your unused prescriptions to the Mammoth Police Department, located 1475 West American Avenue, on Saturday, Nov. 22, 2008, between 1:00 p.m. and 4:00 p.m. Deputies will be standing by to collect the drugs which will then be destroyed by the Sheriff’s Department in a safe and legal manner.
Left over prescription drugs are in all of our cabinets. They come from prescriptions which we did not finish when we were sick. Some of these are seriously out of date and others are narcotics which should not be lying around.
One of the serious problems among our youth is the misuse of prescription drugs. These are normally obtained from left over drugs in parent’s medicine cabinets. Teens will mix these drugs without knowing that mixing some of them can be dangerous and sometimes fatal.
Another problem is with adults who either do not pay attention or who are confused and accidentally take the wrong drug. This, also, can have serious consequences.
These left over medications need to be disposed of. However, we do not want people to flush them into the water table or to throw them in the trash where they can be recovered by children or others.
For more information call Kostas Kalaitzidis at 520 866 6699 or 520 709 1333 or email at Kostas.kalaitzidis@pinalcountyaz.gov | 11/14/2008 | | The 76th Annual Junior Parada starts at 10 a.m. on Florence Main Street, kicking off the rodeo events.
This youth rodeo is the oldest in the United States of America.
The County Attorney's Office will participate with a float.
For more information please call the Town of Florence at 520 868 4382. | 11/24/2008 | | The Florence and the Coolidge School Districts will jointly organize the Pinal County K-12 Disability Resource Transition Fair.
The fair will take place at the Walker Butte School, 29697 N Desert Willow Blvd, on February 26, from 6 to 8:30 p.m.
For more information contact Donna Riffel at Florence High School, 100 S. Main Street, Florence Arizona 85232.
| 12/23/2008 | | The Lost Dutchman Days Parade is long-time Apache Junction tradition, sponsored by the Chamber of Commerce and the City of Apache Junction.
The event commemorates the old Western tail of a Dutchman lost in the Superstitions looking for gold.
Lost Dutchman Days Parade will take place along the Old West Highway in Apache Junction on Feb. 28 at 9 a.m.
| 12/30/2008 | | The One More Step Coalition is organizing the "Unity in the Community Day" in Casa Grande, celebrating Martin Luther King Jr. efforts to free America from racism.
On Jan. 17 at Peart Park the Coalition will hold a series of events between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m.
The events include a proclamation by the Mayor of Casa Grande, cultural shows, school band and musical performances and guest speakers discussing America’s fight for equality.
| 12/30/2008 | | The Arizona City Western Daze is sponsored by the Arizona City Chamber of Commerce and will take place on Saturday, February 28, 2009.
The Daze will be held at Sheriff’s Substation on Sunland Gin Road and will feature an old western theme and a carnival.
Visit the fair and try out your shooting skills at the “Showdown System” or visit the Civil War Command Tent.
| 2/10/2009 | | The Pinal County Town Hall 2009 will take on gangs and their effect on our communities.
The April 22-24 event will take place in Casa Grande, at the Holiday Inn and is entitled “GangBusters: It takes a Community”
This year’s Town Hall will explore gang operations, such as recruitment and financing. It aims to educate county leaders about gang culture and equip them with knowledge, which will help them develop strategies to deal with the problem.
| 2/10/2009 | |
The 12th Annual Pinal-Gila Elder Abuse Conference will take place on April 2nd and 3rd, at the Apache Gold Resort, near Globe, Arizona.
The event is organized by the Pinal-Gila Elder Abuse Specialist Team and will focus on issues faced by persons working with the elderly.
If you have questions or need additional information, please contact Lt. Dan Melvin, Globe Police Department (928) 402-1713 or Bob Brown at the Pinal County Attorney’s Office (520) 866-6243.
Also, for forms and more information please visit the County Attorney website.
| 2/12/2009 | |
Office of the
Pinal County Attorney
Press Release
For Immediate Release
April 10, 2008
Contact: Kostas Kalaitzidis
Tel.: 520 866 6699
Cell: 520 548 6061
Local Program Receives Community Awareness Project Funding for National Crime Victims’ Rights Week
Florence, AZ – The Pinal County Attorney’s Community Services Division has received funding from the National Association of VOCA Assistance Administrators (NAVAA) to sponsor the 2009 Victims’ Rights Week series of events.
NAVAA agreed to reimburse the project up to $4,379.
“In these hard economic times financial help from the federal government is very important. With this help we can provide important information to the public and raise awareness for victims’ rights in our communities,” Pinal County Attorney James P. Walsh said.
The theme for 2009 National Crime Victims’ Rights Week is “25 Years of Rebuilding Lives: Celebrating the Victims of Crime Act.” The dates of the National Crime Victims’ Rights Week (NCVRW) are April 26 to May 2.
The Pinal County Attorney’s Community Services Division’s application was among 186 from around the country and was selected for the quality of the ongoing efforts to raise public awareness about crime victims’ rights and services available in our community and to commemorate 25 years of Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) accomplishments.
According to Mary Jane Damron, Community Services Division Director, the Community Awareness Project that will be sponsored in Pinal County will showcase our efforts to reach out to victims and raise awareness of victims’ rights in the community.
“The support from NAVAA and OVC for our 2009 National Crime Victims’ Rights Week activities will assist us in helping crime victims,” she said. “Members of our community are encouraged to help promote justice through service to crime victims by joining our 2009 National Crime Victims’ Rights Week activities and by supporting victim assistance programs throughout the year.”
The grant came from the Office for Victims of Crime (OVC), within the Office of Justice Programs, U.S. Department of Justice, to promote community awareness of crime victims’ rights and services and to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the enactment of the U.S. Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) during 2009 National Crime Victims’ Rights Week.
The Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) was enacted in 1984 to provide financial support for state crime victim compensation and victim assistance programs. The Act created the Crime Victims Fund through which more than $9 billion has been collected from federal criminal fines and other penalties to support victim services.
Additional resources:
Calendar of Events
| 4/10/2009 | | This anti-drug, anti-alcohol event is sponsored by Adelante Juntos Coalition and is open to all ages. The County Attorney's Office will be holding an informational booth. For more information regarding this event call 520-385-3028.
Location San Manuel Softball field
Start Time 8/4/2009 6:00 PM
End Time 8/4/2009 10:00 PM | 7/31/2009 | | The Eloy Fiestas Patrias are free to the public. This colorful celebration is strictly family oriented, including attractions for all ages. There is no alcohol served or sampled at the Eloy Fiestas Patrias. For more information call the Eloy Chamber of Commerce 520-466-3411.
Where: Main Street Park Downtown Eloy
When: 9/12/2009 9:00 AM to 9/12/2009 11:00 PM | 7/31/2009 | | The 14th Annual Pinal County Domestic Violence Conference will focus on offender accountability and will take place in Casa Grande on Sept. 25, 2009.
The event was organized by the Pinal County Domestic Violence Coalition and will be hosted at the Holiday Inn, located at 777 N. Pinal Ave.
The conference will begin at 7:30 a.m. and conclude at 4:30 p.m.
For questions regarding scholarships, or any other questions regarding the conference, please contact Cathy Bush at: 520-836-0858 or by email at: cathybush@against-abuse.org | 8/31/2009 | | Florence, AZ – County Attorney James P. Walsh presented awards of the Pinal County Attorney’s Office Anti-Drug Poster Contest on Wednesday, Nov. 18.
"This contest is open to all sixth graders in Pinal County," the County Attorney said. "Over 1,000 entries were received this year, up from 840 last year and a panel of judges narrowed the field to 60 finalists. Once those were chosen the real work began since all the artwork was very impressive."
Mr. Walsh was at hand to honor finalists, their families and teachers at a ceremony in Florence where he unveiled the 2010 Anti-Drug Poster Calendar.
Almost 1,100 students sent their anti-drug art to the Pinal County Attorney’s Office continuing an effort to educate children and families on the dangers of drugs. This effort started in 1990 with Roy Mendoza then Pinal County Attorney. It began as a small art contest in local schools to find out who could draw the best anti-drug message.
The contest was named in memory of former Pinal County Superior Court Judge Robert R. Bean who had recently succumbed to cancer.
The best pictures were placed in a month-to-month calendar with the 12 best drawings featured. The idea was to have children show their peers the dangers of drug use.
Nineteen years later, the tradition continues, albeit with some minor modifications to the original month-to-month calendar format.
Mr. Walsh said that the panel of six judges culled the 60 finalists to 9 winners with a grand prize winner, a T-shirt winner and a Tattoo winner. T-shirts featuring the anti-drug message and temporary tattoos will help spread the anti-drug message among impressionable young people.
"I'm glad I wasn't a member of the judging panel," County Attorney Walsh joked. "It was a difficult decision. Our panel worked very hard to chose among an incredible selection of art."
Speaking before a group of student finalists and their parents at The Windmill in Florence, Walsh congratulated those who made the final cut.
"Your work will be an encouragement for all to abstain from drugs," stressed Walsh.
The guest speaker of the night was Gerald Richard, Special Policy Advisor for Law Enforcement at the Arizona Attorney General’s Office. He spoke of the dangers of drugs and passionately told children to avoid dealings with strangers.
He engaged the students in a mock convenience store robbery showing how best to react in such a case. His message was not lost on the children and their parents.
In mid-October the nine students whose artwork is on the 2010 design were photographed with County Attorney Walsh at the Superstition Mountain Museum in Apache Junction. The group photo is on the poster with the winning drawings. Walsh said 10,000 posters were made and will be distributed to Pinal County schools and businesses.
This year's grand prize winner Cassie Johnson a sixth grader from the Desert Shadows Middle School of Apache Junction won a $500 prize for her school. Mary Ambrose, Cassie’s teacher, was at hand to receive the check and enjoy her student’s moment of glory. Cassie also received her poster framed with an engraving of her name, school and year of her success.
The T-Shirt winner is Maria Fernanda Flores Coronado from Red Rock Elementary School. About 100 T-Shirts with her art-work on the back were printed and given to all 60 finalists of the contest and other participants.
The Tattoo winner is Mariah S. Rodriquez San Tan Heights Elementary School. Her drawing was reproduced in the form of washable tattoos and 5,000 copies will be distributed to students around the county.
All nine artists won an expenses paid trip to the Challenger Space Center and they get to invite all their classmates to go with them.
| 12/8/2009 | | Florence, AZ – The Pinal County Attorney’s Office collected close to $21 million for child support last fiscal year, helping more than 11,500 families throughout the county.
“The Child Support Division collected a total of $20,835,550.00 from July 1, 2008 to June 30, 2009. This represents a 3.67 percent increase from the previous fiscal year,” said James P. Walsh, Pinal County Attorney. “Our people worked hard and succeeded in providing needed resources to Pinal County families in these difficult economic times.”
The County Attorney’s Child Support Division is responsible for the collection of child support for Pinal County families. Most other counties are served by state offices.
“We are closer to the people we serve,” said Michelle Krstyen, Child Support Division Director. “We are proud of our accomplishments, since we also managed this success along with fulfilling all state and federal benchmarks and audit requirements.”
The child support division also established paternity orders for 527 children and 735 new child support orders, during last fiscal year.
“Part of our success is based on our close cooperation with local law enforcement agencies,” Walsh said. “Last fall we implemented a child support arrest warrant project to make sure we provided money for children before the holidays. It was very successful.”
“I would like to thank and recognize the work of Family Law Commissioner/Judge Pro Tem Theresa H. Ratliff of Pinal County Superior Court for her work with us and the County Board of Supervisors for helping us maintain this program, during these trying times, when people need them more than ever,” Walsh said.
| 12/8/2009 | | Subject: Sentencing of Michael Willie Enos
Michael Willie Enos, 24, was sentenced to 10 years in prison, on Friday, Jan. 10, 2010. He was found guilty of Possession of a Narcotic Drug by a Pinal County Jury on Nov. 5, 2010.
Enos will have to serve 100 percent of his sentence.
Enos was also found guilty of two counts of Possession of Marijuana. He was sentenced to three years and nine months in prison for each of those two counts.
“The diligent work of our prosecutors in Pinal County have made an example of those who intend on using illegal narcotics here,” said James P. Walsh, Pinal County Attorney. “I am very proud of law enforcement and our Drug Unit, whose efforts protect the families of Pinal County.”
All prison sentences will run concurrently. Enos will have to pay about $4,000 in fines and surcharges.
| 1/20/2010 | |
Phoenix, Ariz. - January 20, 2010 - Attorney General Terry Goddard and Pinal County Attorney James Walsh will host a Crime and Fraud Prevention Forum in Casa Grande on Tuesday, January 26, beginning at 6 p.m. The forum will take place in the Casa Grande City Council Chambers, 510 E. Florence Blvd.
You Tube invitation to the forum:
Goddard and Walsh will be joined by Pinal County Supervisor Chairman David Snider, Casa Grande Mayor Bob Jackson and Chief of Police Robert Huddleston.
The forum, which is open to the public, is being held to increase awareness of local crime trends, discuss prevention strategies and give citizens an opportunity to voice questions and concerns. Topics will include border crime, mortgage fraud, methamphetamine abuse, consumer fraud and identity theft.
Media are invited to re-post this message on their Web sites and community calendars.
Event Information
What: Casa Grande Crime and Fraud Prevention Forum
When: Tuesday, January 26 at 6 p.m.
Where: Casa Grande City Council Chambers
510 E. Florence Blvd.
Casa Grande, Ariz.
Note: This event is open to the media and the public.
| 1/20/2010 | | Florence, AZ - The Second Annual Child Abuse Conference will focus on the issue of the exploitation of children and will take place in Casa Grande on March 19, 2010. The event is sponsored by the Inter-Agency Council of Pinal County and will begin at 8:00 a.m. and conclude at 4:30 p.m. at The Property located in Casa Grande, Az.
Pinal County Sheriff Paul Babeu will be the Keynote speaker while several specialists will give presentations on the subjects of human trafficking, vice enforcement, and internet sex crimes against children. The conference has been approved for four hours of CLE and AZ POST credit.
The conference is organized by the Inter-Agency Council of Pinal County, which meets and is convened by the Pinal County Attorney’s Office, at the Family Advocacy Center, a division of the Pinal County Attorney’s Office.
Registration fee is $50 per person, with scholarships being available on a limited basis. Registration includes continental breakfast, lunch, snacks and conference materials.
The mission of the Inter-Agency Council of Pinal County is to protect the children of Pinal County by providing education and information to our citizens. The council brings together all law enforcement, civilian agencies and organizations that operate in the county. It also provides common training and educational opportunities.
Please mail a $50 money order to: Against Abuse, Inc., P.O. Box 10733, Casa Grande, AZ 85130 along with your registration form.
For further information please contact Jerry Smith, Pinal County Attorney Children’s Justice Coordinator at 520.866.7510, or gerald.smith@pinalcountyaz.gov. | 2/22/2010 | | Florence, AZ – The Pinal County Attorney’s Office along with the Sheriff’s Office would like to see all unused, left over or expired prescription drugs out of people’s cabinets and away from our children and our ground water.
Please bring your unused prescriptions to the new Sheriff’s Substation at 542 East Hunt Highway – in the strip mall area with Fry’s Supermarket - during the Sheriff's Office San Tan Valley Substation Grand Opening and Safety Fair on
Saturday, March 6, 2010, between 10:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. Deputies will be standing by to collect the drugs which will then be destroyed by the Sheriff’s Department in a safe and legal manner.
Left over prescription drugs are in all of our cabinets. They come from prescriptions which we did not finish when we were sick. Some of these are seriously out of date and others are narcotics which should not be lying around.
One of the serious problems among our youth is the misuse of prescription drugs. These are normally obtained from left over drugs in parent’s medicine cabinets. Teens will mix these drugs without knowing that mixing some of them can be dangerous and sometimes fatal.
Another problem is with adults who either do not pay attention or who are confused and accidentally take the wrong drug. This, also, can have serious consequences.
These left over medications need to be disposed of.
However, we do not want people to flush them into the water table or to throw them in the trash where they can be recovered by children or others.
Because of these problems, the Pinal County Attorney’s Office and the Sheriff’s Office will be holding a Prescription Drug Turn-in during the Sheriff's Office San Tan Valley Substation Grand Opening and Safety Fair.
| 2/22/2010 | | Florence, AZ – The Pinal County Attorney’s Office along with the Coolidge Police Dept. and Coolidge Youth Coalition would like to see all unused, left over or expired prescription drugs out of people’s cabinets and away from our children and our ground water.
Please bring your unused prescriptions to the San Carlos Park, 320 West Central Avenue during the Coolidge Cotton Days events on Saturday, March 6, 2010, between 10:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. Coolidge Police Officers will be standing by to collect the drugs which will then be destroyed by the Sheriff’s Department in a safe and legal manner.
Left over prescription drugs are in all of our cabinets. They come from prescriptions which we did not finish when we were sick. Some of these are seriously out of date and others are narcotics which should not be lying around.
One of the serious problems among our youth is the misuse of prescription drugs. These are normally obtained from left over drugs in parent’s medicine cabinets. Teens will mix these drugs without knowing that mixing some of them can be dangerous and sometimes fatal.
Another problem is with adults who either do not pay attention or who are confused and accidentally take the wrong drug. This, also, can have serious consequences.
These left over medications need to be disposed of.
However, we do not want people to flush them into the water table or to throw them in the trash where they can be recovered by children or others.
Because of these problems, the Pinal County Attorney’s Office and the Coolidge Police Department along with the Coolidge Youth Coalition will be holding a Prescription Drug
Turn-in during the Coolidge Days events.
| 2/22/2010 | | Florence, AZ –A man shot by Maricopa Police on February 8 was indicted by a Pinal County Grand Jury late last week on five counts of aggravated assault, while using a deadly weapon a “Class 3 Dangerous Felony” according to the Arizona Revised Statutes.
Robert Mitchell, 29, verbally threatened five police officers brandishing a shotgun. He was shot in the abdomen and now he is recovering from his wounds at the Maricopa Medical Center. Once he's able to travel, he will be transported to the Pinal County jail for booking.
The incident occurred when Maricopa Police officers, responding to a 1:10 a.m. call from concerned neighbors in the Homestead community, found Mitchell brandishing a rifle in his front yard.
Mitchell was transported by air to Maricopa Medical Center, where he remains. Mitchell is expected to make a full recovery.
| 2/24/2010 | | Florence, AZ – A Pinal County jury late last month found two brothers guilty of aggravated assault for shooting at the car of an off duty border patrol agent, driving just south of Casa Grande.
Isaac J. Martinez, 31, and his brother Arthur Martinez, 36, both residents of Mesa were convicted in a case which seems to have began as a road rage incident.
Isaac J. Martinez fired his handgun very near housing developments at the intersection of East McCartney and North Tucker, south of Casa Grande. His brother Arthur was driving their minivan.
Pinal County Attorney James P. Walsh stressed, “We cannot tolerate assault on law enforcement personnel and endangerment of our neighborhoods.”
Martinez claimed the driver of another car shot at him and his brother Arthur Martinez, 36, so they returned fire with handguns. The bullets found the windshield of the car of an off duty border patrol agent narrowly missing him.
The border patrol agent reported the incident to police and the Martinez brothers were arrested on May 19, 2008, while driving north on I-10. They were subsequently indicted for aggravated assault.
"I am very please with the jury’s decision,” said Deputy County Attorney Greg Bizzozero.
Sentencing is scheduled for March 22, 2010 at the Superior Court in Florence.
| 3/5/2010 | | Florence, AZ - The Second Annual Child Abuse Conference will focus on the issue of the exploitation of children and will take place in Casa Grande on March 19, 2010. The event is sponsored by the Inter-Agency Council of Pinal County and will begin at 8:00 a.m. and conclude at 4:30 p.m. at The Property located in Casa Grande, Az.
County Sheriff Paul Babeu will be the Keynote speaker while several specialists will give presentations on the subjects of human trafficking, vice enforcement, and internet sex crimes against children. The conference has been approved for four hours of CLE and AZ POST credit.
The conference is organized by the Inter-Agency Council of Pinal County, which meets and is convened by the Pinal County Attorney’s Office, at the Family Advocacy Center, a division of the Pinal County Attorney’s Office.
Registration fee is $50 per person, with scholarships being available on a limited basis. Registration includes continental breakfast, lunch, snacks and conference materials.
The mission of the Inter-Agency Council of Pinal County is to protect the children of Pinal County by providing education and information to our citizens. The council brings together all law enforcement, civilian agencies and organizations that operate in the county. It also provides common training and educational opportunities.
Please mail a $50 money order to: Against Abuse, Inc., P.O. Box 10733, Casa Grande, AZ 85130 along with your registration form.
For further information please contact Jerry Smith, Pinal County Attorney Children’s Justice Coordinator at 520.866.7510, or gerald.smith@pinalcountyaz.gov. | 3/5/2010 | | Phoenix, AZ - March 10, 2010) As foreclosures continue at a high rate in Arizona, they impact not only homeowners but also people renting properties that have gone into foreclosure. Attorney General Terry Goddard today provided information about the rights of tenants living in properties that are foreclosed.
Last May, Congress passed the “Protecting Tenants at Foreclosure Act” to protect renters who were being forced to immediately leave their homes with little notice when the properties they rented went into foreclosure. The law remains in effect until Dec. 31, 2012.
“Everyone deserves to be treated with dignity and respect, especially in housing,” Goddard said. “Both landlords and tenants should understand and follow the requirements of the new federal law. All too often consumers can be victimized if they don’t understand their rights and responsibilities.”
Under the Protecting Tenants at Foreclosure Act:
-- All tenants must receive a 90-day notice before being evicted as the result of a foreclosure.
-- With some exceptions, the law requires that in the event of foreclosure, existing leases for renters are honored to the end of the term of their lease.
-- The stated exceptions are for tenants without a lease, tenants with a lease terminable at will under state law, or where the owner acquiring the property will occupy it as a primary residence. In these cases, the tenants must receive a minimum of 90 days notice to vacate the property.
-- This law does not affect the requirements of any state or local law that provides longer time periods or other additional protections for tenants.
--The new law does not require any agency to issue implementing regulations; these protections apply to foreclosures after May 20, 2009.
-- Although no federal or state agency is specifically charged with enforcing the Protecting Tenants at Foreclosure Act, if a landlord tries to evict a renter without following the law, the renter may be able to raise that as a defense in eviction proceedings.
| 3/10/2010 |
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