KPHO-TV

PHOENIX, ARIZONA

A Maricopa County detention officer was found in contempt of court and ordered by a judge to make a public apology.

Judge Gary Donahoe ruled that officer Adam Stoddard acted in contempt when he removed paperwork from a defense attorney's file during a criminal sentencing hearing.

During his contempt hearing, Stoddard claimed things he read in the documents led him to believe the defendant being sentenced may have posed a security risk. Stoddard said he took the papers to make copies.

The judge ordered Stoddard to hold a news conference in front of the Central Court Building in downtown Phoenix on or before Nov. 30, or face going to jail Dec. 1.

Sheriff Joe Arpaio called the judge's ruling bizarre.

"The judge does not run this office and tell my people to have press conferences," said Arpiao.

The sheriff added, "I back up the detention officer. He did the right thing acting in good faith in that courtroom."

The judge wrote in his order that the detention officer must give a verbal and written apology for invading the defense file and for the damage that his conduct may have caused her professional reputation. In his ruling, Donahoe stated that if the defense attorney does not find apology sufficient, Stoddard would go to jail.

When asked if he would order his detention officer not to comply with the judge's order, Arpaio reiterated, "I am saying that I decide who has the press conferences and who will talk."

A deputy county attorney who represents Stoddard and the sheriff's office in this case said he plans to file an appeal and ask for a stay of the Nov. 30 deadline.

Comments (7)

djewell: ... ANOTHER LIBERAL JUDGE FLEXING HIS MUSCLE, HIDING BEHIND HIS JUDICIAL ROBES, AND TRYING TO GET AT SHERIFF JOE. GO JOE! 1 November 19, 2009 mae: ... Yep and another of Sheriff Joe's employees ignoring the law and expecting to get away with it. Just you wait for the civil suit. Another big payout for some scumbag because the Sheriff thinks he can make his own laws. 2 November 19, 2009 ipscop: ... A judge decides what is done in their court. I don't know all facts but under what guise do you get to open a defense atty's files and copy? 3 November 20, 2009 Amazed: ... mae and ipscop... There is not enough here to decide, but... Don't think it said he opened the file, but "read things" in the file. Paperwork in a file may be spread all over a defense table and in "plain view" for whoever has a right to be there. Was it on plain paper or marked as part of the defense file? Was the court in session or on a break? Was the defense attorney incompetent in leaving paperwork out to be read? And if it was in plain view, what is the difference if he had the right to just read it or make a copy to prevent a possible escape of a criminal. (Remember a certain courthouse in Atlanta? What a difference it would have made if they had had prior knowledge.) Don't think I would leave a confidential investigation document out so anyone could read it, let alone copy it. 4 November 20, 2009 flewster: ... I think that the defense att shold be held for with holding evidence fromt he prosecution........if he has evience that his client intends to harm or attempt a jail break he should report that to the court. 5 November 20, 2009 jgreg: ... Hey Sheriff Joe...PLEASE come to Sprinfield (IL) and support the troops, clean out the brass, and allow us to do our job. You Rock! 6 November 20, 2009 okpolizei: ... mae is an idiot!!! I damn sure would not want you working for me!! 7 November 25, 2009

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