Sheriff Joe Arpaio Found Guilty of Civil Contempt, Criminal Prosecution is a Possibility

Sheriff Joe Arpaio was found guilty on three counts of civil contempt last week, with a possibility for criminal prosecution left open.

It all happened last Friday, when U.S. District Judge G. Murray Snow issued a 162-page ruling with the deliberation, also finding Arpaio’s chief deputy, Jerry Sheridan, guilty on two counts of civil contempt.

Former executive chief Brian Sands and lieutenant Joe Sousa, who were once head of Arpaio’s Human Smuggling Unit, were each found guilty of one count of civil contempt.

In his ruling, Murray Snow said the sheriff had “repeatedly and intentionally” violated judicial orders to stop profiling Latinos. Arpaio has acknowledged these claims, but said it was a mistake and did so unknowingly. In considering potential criminal charges for the sheriff, Murray Snow will decide wether Arpaio’s violations were intentional.

Coming up next in May, Murray Snow will determine wether Arpaio will be referred over to Arizona’s U.S. attorney for potential criminal charges.

Since Friday’s ruling, Arpaio has told several news outlets that nothing will be changing in his agency despite Murray Snow’s decision. Although Friday’s ruling has been one of the sheriff’s most serious defeats, it doesn’t bar him from holding office. He has already announced his intentions to run for a seventh term as sheriff this November.