WASHINGTON, DC— Former Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio was found guilty of criminal contempt of court charges stemming from to enforce existing illegal immigration laws. The National Center for Police Defense, who has defended Arpaio and launched a legal defense fund for him, blasted U.S. District Court Judge Susan Bolton’s decision in the case.
“This is a complete travesty of justice. As I sat in the court room and listened to Sheriff Joe Arpaio’s trial, I knew any reasonable man or woman who was there to pass judgement on this honest, law abiding man who gave his life to the rule of law could never find him guilty on the evidence presented. Judge Bolton’s ruling has caused me to lose my faith in the court system and the federal judicial system. Had Sheriff Joe been judged by a jury of his peers no reasonable man or woman could have possibly found Americas Toughest Sheriff guilty” says James Fotis, President of National Center for Police Defense.
