Maricopa County Attorney's Office

News and Information from the Maricopa County Attorney's Office.
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[Maricopa County Attorney's Office @marcoattorney]

Proud Moment for MCAO🏆

County Attorney @Rachel1Mitchell was honored by the Arizona Narcotic Officers Association today for her leadership in the fight against drug trafficking in Maricopa County.

See what County Attorney Mitchell had to say about the recognition. ⬇️

[Maricopa County Attorney's Office @marcoattorney]

“I want Maricopa County to be unattractive to people who are going to commit those types of offenses."

County Attorney @Rachel1Mitchell sat down with @azfamily this week to drive the message home: the Maricopa County Attorney's Office isn't slowing down in our fight against organized retail crime.

Listen to the full interview here: https://t.co/08qsoAIXbV

[Maricopa County Attorney's Office @marcoattorney]

Luis Adrian Valle-Martinez* has been indicted for stealing more than $6,000 worth of power tools and hardware from local home improvement stores.

Read more about this case here: https://t.co/auFeO9gtKY

*A criminal charge is merely an accusation, and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.

[Maricopa County Attorney's Office @marcoattorney]

📢Calling all Maricopa County Teens!

Ready to step up as a leader in your community? Join our Teen Advisory Council and get a seat at the table with decision-makers and leaders shaping our criminal justice system.

You'll lead crime prevention initiatives, educate your peers, connect with your community, and advocate for public safety, all while building leadership skills that last a lifetime.

This is your moment to make an impact. Are you in? Apply today: https://t.co/tt0Fo6lqua

[Maricopa County Attorney's Office @marcoattorney]

THIS THURSDAY ⬇️

Back-to-School Family Safety Night
📅Aug 6th from 5:30–7:30 PM
📍75 E Civic Center Drive in Gilbert

Join MCAO and @GilbertPolice for internet safety tips, a parent Q&A, a community resource fair, and FREE school supplies! 🎒RSVP here: https://t.co/m7J9WTMvd9

[Maricopa County Attorney's Office @marcoattorney]

Dyllin Keys has been sentenced to five years in prison for robbing a 12-year-old boy at gunpoint.

“No child should ever have to stare down the barrel of a gun and have to call 911 in tears over being robbed. The fear in the victim’s voice was heartbreaking, but he showed tremendous courage by calling 911. Because of his bravery and the swift response by @GilbertPolice this defendant was caught within minutes. Today’s sentence sends a clear message that anyone who tries to terrorize a kid in Maricopa County will pay for their crime.” - County Attorney @Rachel1Mitchell

Read more about this case here: https://t.co/j34YgA4mQs

[Maricopa County Attorney's Office @marcoattorney]

Operations Manager Gayla Finn has been recognized with a Lifetime Achievement Award by the Arizona Prosecuting Attorneys' Advisory Council!

With more than 36 years of dedicated public service, Gayla has established herself as a trusted leader and mentor within MCAO's Civil Division, which manages thousands of civil cases a year.

Congratulations, Gayla, on this well-deserved recognition!

[Maricopa County Attorney's Office @marcoattorney]

Bjorn Hartzell has been sentenced to 30 years in prison for causing a fatal crash that killed five people.

"No one expects a routine drive to end in tragedy because another driver chose to speed while impaired. Cases like this highlight why reckless and impaired driving remain among the greatest dangers on our roads. Five lives were lost because of one person's decisions behind the wheel. While no sentence can undo that loss, we will continue to seek justice for victims and hold dangerous drivers accountable." - Maricopa County Attorney @Rachel1Mitchell

Read more about this case here: https://t.co/snbmuB7Bkj

[Maricopa County Attorney's Office @marcoattorney]

Jaheime Brown* has been indicted for killing a man outside of a gas station in Phoenix. Brown is being held on a $1 million cash bond.

Read more about this case here: https://t.co/PIzI2caa4g

*A criminal charge is merely an accusation, and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.

[Maricopa County Attorney's Office @marcoattorney]

The heat hasn't slowed our team down!☀️

We've been out connecting with the community all summer:
🚨 Keeping West Phoenix residents in the loop on trending scams
🎒 Helping Mesa parents & students kick off the school year right
✏️ Collecting & donating school supplies for Gila Bend

Invite MCAO to your next event: https://t.co/DxmmptGIgM

[Maricopa County Attorney's Office @marcoattorney]

"A recent video from an incident in Tempe has raised concerns in our community, and I take those concerns seriously. Before jumping to conclusions, I ask the public to consider the full context of this incident.

What is not evident in some of the videos — and what could not have been known to responding officers — is that the woman and another individual who was with her were initially attempting to stop a fight. When officers arrived, they observed two men who were struggling with each other. The situation was active, chaotic, and did not allow for a slow, considered review of events — the type of review my office had the benefit of conducting.

After that review, we determined that there was not a reasonable likelihood of conviction for the felony charges. Let me explain what that means, and, perhaps more importantly, what it does not mean. Whether there is a "reasonable likelihood of conviction" is a prosecutorial determination of whether a jury will unanimously find someone guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. What it is not is a finding that an officer’s actions were wrong or violated policy, nor is it a finding that the accused was in the right or in the wrong.

In this case, after my senior staff and I reviewed the totality of the evidence, we did not believe a jury would convict, beyond a reasonable doubt, on felony charges, which is what my office prosecutes. It is the responsibility of the city prosecutor to determine if any misdemeanor charges are warranted." - County Attorney @Rachel1Mitchell

[Maricopa County Attorney's Office @marcoattorney]

Tevin Favor has been sentenced to 34 years in prison for sexually assaulting four women.

"These women showed extraordinary courage. Coming forward about being sexually assaulted is hard enough, and coming forward years later, knowing you'll have to relive it in detail, in front of strangers in a courtroom, takes a different kind of bravery. Their willingness to do so didn't just bring them justice; it helped put a serial rapist behind bars and protect other women from being harmed in the future.” - County Attorney @Rachel1Mitchell

Learn more about this case here: https://t.co/8lPG7GJGXc

[Maricopa County Attorney's Office @marcoattorney]

🚨 Ever wondered what happens after a crime is reported?

Get an insider's look at the criminal justice system by attending the MCAO Citizens Academy! In this FREE one-day program you'll hear directly from prosecutors, participate in a mock felony case review, and learn how cases are reviewed and charged.

✔️ Free to attend
✔️ Open to Maricopa County residents 18+
✔️ Lunch included

Space is limited and registration is first come, first served. Sign up today: https://t.co/7j2TpS5zG5

[Maricopa County Attorney's Office @marcoattorney]

Deion Garcia has been sentenced to 40 years in prison and lifetime supervised probation for the sexual abuse of several children under his care when he worked as a dental assistant in Chandler.

“This defendant was trusted with the care of vulnerable children during routine dental procedures, and he exploited that trust for his own sexual gratification. I commend the work of the @ChandlerPolice and sex crimes prosecutor Anshika Mehrotra in securing justice for these victims. This 40-year sentence reflects the seriousness of his crimes.” - County Attorney @Rachel1Mitchell

Read more about this case here: https://t.co/nsmHCuEAiI

[Maricopa County Attorney's Office @marcoattorney]

MCAO has been recognized by the @NACoCounties with two National Achievement Awards, bringing the office's total to 87 awards!

“MCAO employees not only do a great job at the work they do on a day-to-day basis but are constantly adapting and finding creative solutions to the complex challenges that arise within the criminal justice system. I’m constantly in awe of what our employees create and the passion with which they do so, especially when it’s in service to others.” - County Attorney @Rachel1Mitchell

Read more about the awards here: https://t.co/kJE22bCk1V

[Maricopa County Attorney's Office @marcoattorney]

Roberto Trejo has been sentenced to 20 years in the Department of Corrections for the murder 66-year-old Frank Vitale.

“No amount of time will be enough to make up for the pain and suffering this defendant has caused. At 20 years old, he had the opportunity to improve his behavior but instead chose to do the unimaginable and take a life. Thanks to the work of homicide prosecutor Daniel Strange, this defendant will no longer be a threat to the community.” - County Attorney @Rachel1Mitchell

Read more about this case here: https://t.co/rn006RhjP5

[Maricopa County Attorney's Office @marcoattorney]

This morning, County Attorney @Rachel1Mitchell invited Congressman @RepAndyBiggsAZ to meet with law enforcement association representatives from across Maricopa County.

The two answered questions and shared updates on the important work they're doing to support law enforcement and ensure they have the tools they need to keep our communities safe.

Thank you to Congressman Biggs for joining this important discussion!