Court Challenges of Arpaio in Maricopa County, AZ‏

The public gallery at the Maricopa County Superior Court with Judge Armando Gandarilla will be filled again this Friday, August 7. Last week in a similar case, nearly 50 viewed the Evidentiary Hearing of activist Orlando Arenas who had charges of criminal trespassing dismissed with prejudice and monetary sanctions imposed on the Sheriff Joe Arpaio.

The trial on Friday is the "criminal trespass" charge from September 29 of last year against lead organizer of the Maricopa Citizens for Safety and Accountability (MCSA), Randy Parraz. Randy was grabbed by Maricopa County Sheriff Office (MCSO) deputies for standing in a public area outside the County Board of Supervisors building. Randy was singled out of a small crowd of people standing next to him, but only he was accused of trespassing -- little more than political retribution for Randy's tireless criticism of the MCSO.

The incident calls to mind the arrest of the ACLU of Arizona's legal director Dan Pochoda on a bogus trespassing charge last year. Pochoda recently beat that rap, and is suing the County for $400K. So far, every one arrested on bogus charges has beaten the MCSO combined with the County Attorney regime in the courts. Guess who pays when someone is wrongfully arrested by the MCSO? Taxpayers.

See the link:
http://blogs.phoenixnewtimes.com/bastard/2008/09/county_supes_critic_randy_parr.php

Also on August 7th, children, teens and families come out to march against the injustices that are affecting the victims of Arpaio's raids. We will start at 11am at the 4th Ave County jail (4th Ave & Madison) and walk to Joe Arpaio's office (Wells Fargo Tower 100 W Washington). We will finish at 1pm.