Prosecutors To Charge Sheriff Arpaio With Criminal Contempt Of Court Over Immigration Patrols

FILE - In this Jan. 9, 2013 file photo, Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio speaks with the media in Phoenix. Arpaio begins a four-day hearing Tuesday, April 21, that could bring him fines, damage his credibility and... FILE - In this Jan. 9, 2013 file photo, Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio speaks with the media in Phoenix. Arpaio begins a four-day hearing Tuesday, April 21, that could bring him fines, damage his credibility and make him politically vulnerable for his acknowledged violations of a judge's orders in a racial profiling case. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin,File) MORE LESS

Federal prosecutors say they will file criminal contempt-of-court charges against Sheriff Joe Arpaio for disobeying orders to stop his immigration patrols.

The announcement in federal court Tuesday sets in motion criminal proceedings against the sheriff just as he seeks a seventh term in office.

A judge previously recommended criminal contempt charges against Arpaio but left it up to federal prosecutors to actually bring the case. Prosecutor John Keller said in court that the government will bring charges, with the next step being a court filing that’s akin to a criminal complaint.

Arpaio could face up to six months in jail if convicted of misdemeanor contempt.

Arpaio was told by federal judge Murray Snow to stop his immigration patrols amid allegations of racial profiling by Latinos.

Arpaio has acknowledged violating the order but insists his disobedience wasn’t intentional.

Copyright 2016 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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  1. “Arpaio has acknowledged violating the order but insists his disobedience wasn’t intentional.”

    Suuuuuure it wasn’t.

  2. Avatar for imkmu3 imkmu3 says:

    Oh happy day!

  3. Ignorance of the law is no excuse - Right?

  4. It’s about Arpayaso goes to jail. Sadly, he won’t be sentenced to his beloved tent city so he could look Pretty in Pink.

  5. Only 6 mos.? What a joke the feds are, besides this horrible terrorist Arpaio.

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