Judge to Ariz. Officer: Apologize or Go to Jail

PHOENIX --

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.

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