Romley Accuses MCSO, Thomas of Abuse of Power Grand Jury Investigation Finds Nothing Illegal

[JonLP24]

Romley Accuses MCSO, Thomas of Abuse of Power
Grand Jury Investigation Finds Nothing Illegal

Updated: Thursday, 12 Aug 2010, 6:00 PM MDT
Published : Thursday, 12 Aug 2010, 1:55 PM MDT

PHOENIX - A grand jury investigation into some top county officials and a judge is over, and it was found they did nothing illegal.

Maricopa County Attorney Rick Romley lashed out against the Maricopa County Sheriff's Office and former county attorney Andrew Thomas, accusing them of abusing their power in the criminal investigations of county officials and a Maricopa county superior court judge.

In a rare move, Romley's office released hundreds of pages of documents, including grand jury transcripts that were unsealed by a judge.

That testimony shows that in March, the grand jury had voted to end the inquiry into members of the board of supervisors and county officials over a sweep for listening devices in county buildings and the construction of a new court tower.

http://www.myfoxphoenix.com/dpp/news/justice/romley-accuses-mcso-thomas-of-abuse-of-power-08122010

[JonLP24]

1. This has grand jury transcripts and more info

Grand jury docs detail MCSO, MCSA probes

Interim Maricopa County Attorney Rick Romley on Thursday released hundreds of pages of grand-jury testimony and other documents showing failed attempts by Sheriff Joe Arpaio and former County Attorney Andrew Thomas to obtain criminal charges against county officials.

Grand-jury proceedings are secret, but a Superior Court judge unsealed the records "in the furtherance of justice."

The documents say that the grand jury and an out-of-county prosecutor told Maricopa County prosecutors that prosecutors had no case against the county officials involving a sweep for illegal wiretaps and the construction of a downtown Phoenix court tower. Another prosecutor refused to hear the case.

Although they were turned away or denied several times, sheriff's top officials and Thomas still say publicly that criminal investigations continue. They allege serious misconduct by county officials.

http://www.azcentral.com/12news/news/articles/2010/08/12/20100812sheriff-joe-arpaio-investigation-documents-released-thursday.html

The PDF files are at the link.