Contact Information Downtown. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (602) 506-3411 301 W. Jefferson Street • Phoenix, AZ 85003 Southeast Facility . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (602) 506-2600 222 E. Javelina Avenue, Suite 2400 • Mesa, AZ 85210 Juvenile Division Eastside Office. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (602) 372-5415 222 E. Javelina Avenue, Suite 2400 • Mesa, AZ 85210 Juvenile Division Westside Office. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (602) 372-4000 3131 W. Durango Street • Phoenix, AZ 85009 Luhrs Building. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (602) 372-0036 11 W. Jefferson Street • Phoenix, AZ 85003 Civil Services Division. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (602) 506-8541 222 N. Central Avenue, Suite 1100 • Phoenix, AZ 85004 Specific Information on Programs of Interest Check Enforcement. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (602) 372-7300 Kids in Court Program. . . . . . . . . . . . . (602) 506-8522 Media Relations. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (602) 506-3411 Speakers Bureau. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (602) 506-3411 Adoptions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (602) 372-5437 Community Action Bureau ����������������(602) 506-3411 Victim Services Division . . . . . . . . . . . (602) 506-8522 Victim Compensation Bureau �����������(602) 506-4955 Hotlines Graffiti. . . . . . . . . . . . . . (602) 262-7327 Hate Crimes . . . . . . . . . (602) 506-5000 Illegal Dumping ������ (602) 506-6616 Mission Statement The mission of the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office is to deliver high-quality prosecution, comprehensive victims’ services, crime prevention programs and legal representation for County government on behalf of the people of Maricopa County, to provide a safe and well-governed community. W elcome to the 2011 Annual Report representing a brief look at our first full year in office. We have also included a number of items that reflect our ongoing efforts to provide: “Service with Integrity Ensuring Justice For All” There were two priorities I had in mind when arriving on my first full day in office. One was the efforts to return the Civil Division to the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office (MCAO). A series of meetings were held with the Board of Supervisors (BOS) resulting in the significant repair of relations between the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office (MCAO) and the Board. My second priority was to improve relations with the Maricopa County Superior Court. The success of these efforts, including employees from all areas in the MCAO, contributed significantly to a renewed spirit of service for the citizens of Maricopa County. The crime rate in Maricopa County continues to decrease. This is reflected in the review of office statistics. While these numbers don’t tell the complete story, we believe they are a direct result of the successful efforts of prosecutors working in partnership with Valley law enforcement agencies and the courts to hold violent criminals and repeat offenders in prison for longer periods of time and thereby preventing them from committing new crimes. Each year Victims’ Rights Week is an important event in the office. The week showcases the office’s commitment to protecting the rights of all victims and their families. Our ongoing support for victims’ rights is also reflected in our participation with the Clerk of the Court in the award-winning Victim Restitution Program. At no cost to the taxpayer, we assigned MCAO detectives to locate victims that were granted restitution but who are no longer at the address that they originally provided to the Court. Through the efforts of these detectives, more than 6,600 victims have been located and nearly $1 million has been disbursed to those victims of crime through the Clerk of the Court. Without the assistance of our detectives, those victims may have never received the restitution that was due to them. Our shred-a-thons last year set new office records for the amount of documents that citizens throughout Maricopa County dropped off for safe disposal and destruction. Through the hard work of our volunteers and a rewarding partnership with Shred-It, the MCAO remains committed to helping citizens avoid being the victims of identity theft. MCAO has sponsored other community events that have grown in popularity including Safe Kids Summer and Friday Night Football Patrol. As a result, thousands of high school students signed pledges promising they would remain drug and alcohol free. Families were provided important information about the dangers of drug abuse, including the alarming increase in the misuse of prescription drugs already legally in the home. MCAO distributed special ID kits which parents could take home to create a personal identity record for each of their children which could be used to assist law enforcement and medical personnel in case of an emergency situation. I am proud to be part of the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office as both an experienced prosecutor and its elected leader. We have some of the most talented prosecutors, paralegals, detectives and legal staff in the nation. We have come a long way in 2011. We will continue to deliver stellar prosecutorial work as well as our important service to the community in 2012. Congratulations on a great year. Bill Montgomery Bill Montgomery Maricopa County Attorney Table of Contents 01 02 03 04 05 06 Civil Services Division Speakers Bureau Community Efforts Crime Victim Restitution Program Victims’ Rights Week 07 08 09 12 13 14 Veteran’s Court Legislative Action 2011 Significant Cases Check Enforcement & Pretrial Division Adoption Executive Biographies ef n Chi ish o r I isi v Doug Irish is the Civil Services Division Chief and es Di Doug ic v r Se also a Special Assistant to the County Attorney for IntergovCivil ernmental Relations. Doug joined the office after practicing law in Colorado and finishing a 40-year career with Phoenix law firm, Lewis and Roca. Civil Services Division Shortly after Bill Montgomery took office, he and the Board of Supervisors (BOS) began discussing the differences that had led to the 2009 split of civil representation within the County. Within four months, Mr. Montgomery and the BOS had formed an agreement for the restoration of the personnel and services to the MCAO. “The return of these civil functions to the County Attorney’s Office marks another major milestone in the cooperative relationship that has developed among government entities that previously were at odds. With these important duties restored, we can now begin a new chapter dedicated to providing a full range of expert legal services to the citizens and governmental entities of Maricopa County,” said Maricopa County Attorney Bill Montgomery. The Maricopa County Attorney’s Office welcomed back a newly organized Civil Services Division when the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors officially transferred resources and responsibilities of the County’s Special Litigation and General Counsel Departments to the County Attorney’s Office in March 2011. The new Civil Services Division represents the interests of the citizens of Maricopa County by providing legal advice and litigation support to the various boards, agencies and officials of County government. The Civil Services Division is organized around five Practice Group Areas: 1) Government/Advice which is led by Practice Group Leader Colleen Connor; 2) Human Resources led by Practice Group Leader Brandon Newton; 3) Land/Transactional led by Practice Group Leader Dan Brenden; 4) Litigation led by Practice Group Leader Tom Liddy; and 5) Tax led by Practice Group Leader Richard Stewart. The Civil Services Division has 42 attorneys, 18 paralegals and 23 support staff. 01 Speakers Bureau The Speakers Bureau at the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office is a free public service that provides criminal justice experts to speak at elementary schools, high schools, colleges, civic organizations and other business and professional associations throughout Maricopa County. Through this popular program, the MCAO helps educate citizens about current public policies, social issues and the latest crime trends. In 2011, the Speakers Bureau conducted more than 70 presentations to 4,400 senior citizens, parents, students and community members. The most popular requests that come through the Speakers Bureau are for drug prevention presentations, most often held during Red Ribbon Week. This nationwide campaign, usually launched in the fall, brings millions of people together to raise awareness regarding the need for alcohol, tobacco and drug abuse prevention. Red Ribbon Week also encourages the community to address violence prevention, early intervention and treatment services. It is the largest, most visible prevention awareness campaign observed annually in the United States and the MCAO has always been a proud supporter. In fact, the MCAO actually refers to it as Red Ribbon Season because requests for Red Ribbon support by local schools usually run all the way from September through December. This year, in addition to our usual Red Ribbon activities, the office teamed up with Fox 10 Arizona for their popular morning segment, “Whirlybird Wednesdays.” Cory McCloskey, the well-known morning weather personality, flew to Mountain View Elementary School in Waddell, Arizona and landed the helicopter on school grounds. Cory and Maricopa County Attorney Bill Montgomery met with students before school and conducted live spots sending a strong anti-drug message, “You Use, You Lose.” The MCAO provided students with red “You Use, You Lose” T-shirts to reinforce the event and offered parents and teachers a strong anti-drug message. Red Ribbon Week is the perfect time to talk to your kids about staying away from drugs and alcohol. “We really appreciate having a speaker come talk to our kids about this important topic...” Cal T., Desert Horizon Elementary School “...exciting speakers who are able to speak the same language as the kids in our audience. Thank you!” Sally M., Altadena Middle School “Thanks to the MCAO Speakers Bureau, our homeowners are more informed and aware of their surroundings.” Mary Z., Mountain Park Ranch Homeowners’ Association “Red Ribbon Week was a complete success … the kids looked forward to the red T-shirts and seeing the helicopter all week!” Mrs. Tether, 4th grade teacher, Mountain View Elementary School 02 d ningn Chief an n a M h Keith Manning has served the t ivisio aison i D e s K n Li o i t t n citizens of Maricopa County for more than a ceme 15 years. His experience as a prosecutor, attorney supervisor Oper r o f En Law and multi-agency law enforcement liaison provides him with the breadth of knowledge required as the current Operations Division Chief. He earned his J.D. from the University of Arizona and was admitted to the State Bar of Arizona in 1992. Keith has served as a prosecutor for Pima County and the City of Phoenix and worked in Vehicular Crimes and Gangs as a Deputy County Attorney. As Operations Division Chief, Keith oversees the 11 specialty functions that report to the County Attorney, in addition to representing the office at all officer involved shootings and reviewing in-custody deaths. Diane Meloche serves as the Appeals Bureau Chief; Rebecca Baker is the Community Action Bureau Chief; Jerry Cobb is the Communications Director and Kris Lehman is the Training Bureau Chief. Community Efforts The Maricopa County Attorney’s Office is committed to making Maricopa County a great place to live, work and raise a family. We want our employees and neighbors to enjoy a high quality of life. Giving back to the community is a core value of the MCAO and our employees. With this goal in mind, the office participates in and sponsors hundreds of events each year with more than 200 employees volunteering their time for the cause. For the second year in a row, MCAO volunteers participated in an area beautification project at the Tres Rios Wildlife area. Other volunteer projects included events such as the Phoenix Veterans Day parade and the Pets on Probation project which invites employees to walk homeless dogs around the downtown area to promote pet adoption. 03 Over the past year MCAO hosted 14 free community events. Community shred-a-thons were held throughout the County. More than 150 tons of personal documents were destroyed in an effort to protect our citizens from ID theft and fraud. MCAO also hosted two prescription drug drop-off events. Citizens were encouraged to drop off unused prescription drugs to a secure, monitored location knowing that the medications would be properly disposed of and therefore kept out of the wrong hands. In addition, MCAO co-hosted two Citizen Safety Forums. These free events brought community members together for classes on home safety, internet safety and personal safety and were attended by more than 200 people. Three new programs launched by the office in 2011 were aimed at protecting and educating the youngest citizens of Maricopa County. Safe Kids Summer, Friday Night Football Patrol and High School Hoops were rolled out last year. These drug prevention and safety education programs touched more than 5,000 school-aged kids. Safe Kids Summer had MCAO volunteers at 16 public swimming pools over eight weeks, providing information on how to be safe while at home and while at school. Prizes were provided to children who could recite their parents’ telephone numbers and their home addresses. Friday Night Football Patrol and High School Hoops were programs which took place at local high schools on Friday nights during the school football and basketball games. Thousands of high school students participated by signing pledges promising they would remain drug and alcohol free. A variety of drug prevention information was available for the students and their families. As has been a tradition for many years, the employees of the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office participated in making the holiday season brighter for those less fortunate. This year the MCAO donated their time and gifts to Operation Homefront. This important local organization provides emergency financial assistance to the families of our military service members and wounded warriors. Through the purchase of casual day stickers, MCAO employees donated more than $5,000 to purchase toys for the families of our nation’s heroes. Crime MCAO Selected Adult Filings Offense Type Agg. Assault Arson Burglary Child Molestation DUI Drug Related Homicide Robbery Sexual Assault Theft Vehicular Theft Total 2011 Crime rates in Maricopa County have decreased. The MCAO continues to deliver high quality services and programs to ensure a safe and well-governed community for the residents of Maricopa County. Defendants 2,414 56 2,221 363 2,661 15,243 290 995 117 748 660 25,768 50,000 45,000 40,000 35,000 30,000 25,000 20,000 15,000 10,000 5,000 0 Maricopa County Adult Felony Filings 43,448 40,814 41,430 37,204 31,765 FY07 FY08 FY09 FY10 FY11 2011 vs. 2010 Maricopa County • • Violent crimes decreased 5% in 2011 from 2010. Vehicle thefts decreased 2% in 2011 from 2010. Identity theft and fraud continue to decline in Maricopa County In 2011, identity theft continued to decline in Maricopa County. • The MCAO sponsored 14 shred-a-thons in 2011 helping Maricopa County residents’ protect themselves against identity theft by destroying over 150 tons of personal documents. • The MCAO Check Enforcement Program returned over one million dollars to victims of check fraud in 2011. Animal cruelty offenses declined by 41% between 2010 and 2011 04 ey Ashl f Chie n o ivisi n Investigations Division Chief Karen Ashley began Karetigations D her career more than 25 years ago as a narcotics officer with s Inve the Flagstaff Police Department. She then held several positions with the Peoria (AZ) Police Department, ending as the Deputy Police Chief. She joined the MCAO in 2008 and became the Investigations Division Chief in 2012. She oversees a staff of more than 50 detectives, aides, subpoena servers and support staff within five bureaus. Lt. Mike Palmer leads the Administration Bureau; Lt. Danny Wilkinson leads the Major Crimes Bureau; Lt. Tom Stubbs leads Special Investigations and Lt. Rich Hargus leads the Support Services Bureau. Victim Restitution Program In early 2010, the Clerk of the Superior Court and the MCAO teamed up to create the Crime Victim Restitution Project. The project was designed to locate those “hard-to-find” victims of crimes who are due restitution. These are funds paid by defendants based on court-ordered restitution to the victims. The Clerk identifies those victims the court has been unable to locate and forwards the information to MCAO investigators. These investigators volunteer for the project and complete the research during non-duty hours. Utilizing MCAO criminal investigations databases, the Internet and old-fashioned “detective work,” the investigators make telephone calls and in-person visits to identify whether or not they have the correct victim. The victim signs an affidavit proving their identity and the restitution money due them is sent. As the project has grown, people who believe they are owed restitution money can now contact the Clerk’s Office online or by telephone. Here they can also update their address and contact information making it easier for MCAO detectives to find them. 05 The Crime Victim Restitution Project continues to be very successful. • In the first week of the program alone, MCAO investigators located 76 victims. • To date, nearly $1 million in restitution has been returned to more than 2,200 victims. • An additional 2,400 victims have been forwarded to the MCAO for assistance in locating. • Because the investigative work done is all voluntary, this provides a tremendous savings to the court and the Maricopa County criminal justice system. • The reported success rate of locating recipients of court-ordered victim restitution is 90%. The National Association of Counties (NACo) awarded the MCAO and the Clerk of the Superior Court a 2011 NACo Achievement Award for its Crime Victims Restitution program. “This is an example of the cooperative, collaborative relationship our office is forging with other government agencies in service to the people of Maricopa County,” said Maricopa County Attorney Bill Montgomery. “The success of this program underscores the strong commitment of this office to honor and respect the rights of crime victims,” he added. hief lis ivision C l Gi John Gillis, Victim Services Division Chief, joined es D ic v John r e S the MCAO in 2010 after a long and distinguished criminal m i Vict justice career. After serving as a police officer for more than 26 years, John was appointed Commissioner to the California Board of Prison Terms. An appointment by former President George W. Bush to the position of National Director of the Office for Victims of Crime followed. Today John oversees more than 70 advocates and support staff in the MCAO Victim Services Division. Melody Lenhardt is the Advocate Bureau Chief of the Child Advocacy Bureau; Donna Pickering is the Advocate Bureau Chief of the Criminal Trials Bureau; Beatriz Ramirez-Garnica is the Advocate Bureau Chief of the Juvenile East Bureau; Steven Blair is the Advocate Bureau Chief of the Juvenile West Bureau; Yvonne Ecker serves as the Advocate Bureau Chief of the Major Crimes I Bureau; Jennifer Heisig serves as the Advocate Bureau Chief of Major Crimes II; Susie Lopez is the Advocate Bureau Chief of the Operations Bureau and Julie Williams is the Advocate Bureau Chief of the Victim Compensation Bureau. Victims’ Rights Week The 30th Annual National Crime Victims’ Rights Week observes victims’ rights and honors crime victims and those who advocate on their behalf. Each year the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office partners with the Arizona Governor’s Office, the Arizona Attorney General’s Office and the Arizona Department of Corrections to host a luncheon on our Capitol’s lawn to highlight the important role of victims’ rights in the criminal justice system and pay tribute to Arizonans who have worked to ensure these rights are respected and upheld. The MCAO also held internal events including a victims’ rights awareness campaign for county employees, an ice cream social for the victim advocates and support staff at the MCAO, and an awards presentation to MCAO employees who provided extraordinary service on behalf of victims. The theme of this year’s observance of National Crime Victims’ Rights Week was ‘Reshaping the Future, Honor- 06 ing the Past.’ Speaking at the Capitol luncheon were Arizona Governor Jan Brewer, Attorney General Tom Horne, Maricopa County Attorney Bill Montgomery, and Arizona Department of Corrections Director Charles L. Ryan. Victims’ rights advocates and members of the state legislature and judiciary were also in attendance. Nine individuals received special recognition and awards for their work on behalf of crime victims. Governor Brewer also proclaimed April 10th – 16th, 2011 Arizona Crime Victims’ Rights Week. In 1990, Arizona became one of the first states to add a Victims’ Bill of Rights to its constitution after voters overwhelmingly approved a ballot initiative launched by a coalition of victims’ rights organizations. “While we have made great strides, we still have a long way to go to fully uphold the rights of crime victims to justice and due process. I commend those leaders in our state who are committed to the cause of justice and fairness for their ongoing efforts to truly protect and honor these rights,” Maricopa County Attorney Bill Montgomery said. Ruiz ef d r n Chi Trial Division Chief Leonard Ruiz is a career prosona Le o isi l Div a i r T ecutor who began his service as a Deputy County Attorney at the MCAO more than 27 years ago. After moving though the Burglary Unit, Gang ROP and Homicide plus a short stint at the Arizona Attorney General’s Office, he became the MCAO Criminal Trials Division Chief in 2003. Leonard supervises more than 90 attorneys, support staff, interns and paralegals divided among five bureaus. His Bureau Chiefs include Shawn Steinberg (Bureau A), Gina Godbehere (Bureau B), Vic Cook (Bureau C), George Gialketsis (Bureau D) and Frankie Jones (Probation Violation). Veteran’s Court Maricopa County Veterans’ Court is a new problem-solving court serving veterans who are currently on probation and who have absconded or veterans on supervision who are at risk of violating their probation terms. Representatives from the Courts, Adult Probation, mental health providers, the Veteran’s Administration and the County Attorney’s Office worked together to launch the court in order to provide treatment and services to veteran offenders suffering trauma such as divorce and drug and alcohol abuse. Without appropriate treatment these veterans are at an increased risk of harming themselves or others. With the increase in veterans returning to Maricopa County, the courts have seen a growing number of offenders with service-related trauma often resulting in incarceration or suicide. The goal of the courts is to protect the community while honoring veterans’ service and addressing circumstances unique to those who have given so much in defense of our country and our way of life. MCAO prosecutors collaborate with public defenders and members of the court to help veterans meet their legal obligations. Nearly 200 matters were processed through Veteran’s Court in the first weeks of operation. 07 Legislative Action 2011 While the 2011 legislative session was primarily focused on the state budget shortfall, several significant pieces of criminal justice legislation were passed and signed into law. Maricopa County Attorney Bill Montgomery hailed the passage of two pieces of legislation that strengthened existing laws against people who sexually exploit children. House Bill (HB) 2438, sponsored by State Representative Steve Montenegro, extended the felony classification for sexual conduct with a minor to apply to those who were, but are no longer, the minor’s parent, guardian, teacher or clergyman. HB 2411, sponsored by State Representative Eddie Farnsworth, mandates “pimps” who commit the crime of child prostitution with minors who are 15, 16 or 17 years of age, and “johns” who engage in child prostitution with minors who they know are 15, 16 or 17 years of age receive a sentence consecutive to any other sentence imposed. “This was one of our more challenging years at the Legislature … but we were still able to successfully champion several good pieces of legislation,” MCAO Legislative Liaison Daniel Seiden “These new laws will protect the citizens of Maricopa County and hold the right people accountable.” MCAO Legislative Liaison Rebecca Baker “Thanks to the commitment of Representative Montenegro and Representative Farnsworth, my office now has additional tools to protect the citizens of Maricopa County from criminals who prey on the most vulnerable members of our community,” remarked Maricopa County Attorney Bill Montgomery. “These two measures will help prevent specific types of child predators from escaping full accountability for their criminal conduct, including teachers and others in a position of authority who seek to “groom” an underage victim for a future sexual encounter, and adults engaged in offering or soliciting older children for prostitution,” he added. Prior to the passage of HB 2438, punishment of teachers convicted of sexual conduct with a minor was restricted by whether the sexual encounter occurred within the dates of the school calendar. This restriction effectively allowed predators to begin “grooming” their victims during the school year and then wait until the school year was over to steal a child’s innocence and trust. Legislation that substantially toughened penalties for organizers of major human smuggling rings was also passed. HB 2405, sponsored by State Representative Ted Vogt modified existing 08 human smuggling statutes to allow prosecutors to effectively target operators of multiple “drop houses” and secure greater prison time and fines for defendants in cases where multiple acts of human smuggling can be proved beyond a reasonable doubt. “With this legislation, we can now effectively target and hold accountable the human smuggling kingpins who account for the majority of drop houses and related crime that threatens the safety of entire neighborhoods,” said County Attorney Montgomery. Significant Cases sky on Chief t i v No ivisi Tony Novitsky started his prosecution career with es I D m Tony i r C r the City of Phoenix 30 years ago and joined the Maricopa Majo County Attorney’s Office in the Vehicular Crimes Bureau in 1989. While at the MCAO Tony has also served as Chief of Training, Preliminary Hearings, Trial Bureau, Juvenile Crimes and Criminal Trials. As the Major Crimes I Division Chief, Tony oversees seven specialty bureaus. Peter Spaw serves as Asset Forfeiture Bureau Chief; Jeffrey Beaver is the Drug Enforcement Bureau Chief; David Rodriguez is the Gangs Bureau Chief; Bob Shutts serves as the Homicide Bureau Chief; Mitch Rand is the ROP Bureau Chief; Vicki Kratovil is the Special Crimes Bureau Chief and Aaron Harder is the Vehicular Crimes Bureau Chief. State v. Josef Alexander Arvallo Deputy County Attorneys Hillary Weinberg and Chris Rapp, Homicide Bureau On March 6, 2007, Steven Leonard and Samuel Hixon went to the Typhoon Car Wash at 43rd Avenue and Northern to sell a small amount of cocaine to Thomas Rodriguez. The parties did not know each other. Prior to the sale, Rodriguez enlisted Joseph Arvallo to steal the cocaine at gunpoint from Leonard and Hixon and make it appear as if Arvallo was also stealing the drugs from Rodriguez. When Leonard and Hixon arrived at the car wash, Arvallo approached their vehicle with an assault rifle. Instead of stealing the drugs, he fired four shots into the cab and killed both men. Arvallo was sentenced to life in prison and is not eligible for parole. After two hung juries and a mistrial, Thomas Rodriguez pled guilty to two counts of manslaughter and was sentenced to two concurrent prison terms of 15 years, 9 months. State v. William Craig Miller Deputy County Attorneys Kristin Hoffmeyer and Jason Kalish, Homicide Bureau 09 It took a jury less than three hours to reach guilty verdicts in the trial of William Craig Miller, accused of murdering five family members in Mesa in an apparent effort to eliminate witnesses to an earlier act of arson he committed with the help of one of the victims. Miller was accused of the February 2006 shooting of Tammy Lovell, 32, Steven Duffy, 30, Duffy’s brother Shane, 18, and Tammy Lovell’s two children, ages 10 and 15. Miller was found guilty on five counts of first degree murder, one count of first degree burglary and one count of tampering with physical evidence. The jury also found him guilty on four counts of solicitation of first degree murder related to his unsuccessful efforts to hire four different assassins to kill the family members. Miller had previously pled guilty to arson for deliberately setting fire to his Scottsdale home with the help of Steven Duffy in an attempt to collect insurance funds. Homicide attorneys Kristin Hoffmeyer and Jason Kalish prosecuted Miller and he was ultimately sentenced to death on all five counts of first degree murder. Significant Cases cont. State v. Mark Goudeau Deputy County Attorneys Suzanne Cohen and Patricia Stevens, Homicide Bureau After seven days of deliberations, a Maricopa County jury found Mark Goudeau guilty on 67 felony charges including nine counts of first degree murder in connection with a year-long crime spree that involved multiple kidnappings, armed robberies and violent assaults. He was found not guilty on one count of armed robbery, two counts of attempted armed robbery and one count of kidnapping. The jury was unable to reach a verdict on one count of sexual abuse. On January 16, 2007, Mark Goudeau was indicted for 74 felony offenses, including nine homicides, numerous sexual crimes against adult and juvenile females, multiple aggravated assaults and twelve armed robberies. The alleged crimes involved 33 victims in 13 separate attacks in the Phoenix metropolitan area between August 6, 2005 and June 29, 2006. All nine homicides were charged as first degree murder and homicide attorneys Suzanne Cohen and Patricia Stevens successfully prosecuted the case. In 2011, a Maricopa County jury sentenced Goudeau to death. etti on Chief n n Na Divisi II Cindi Nannetti has been with the Maricopa CounCindi imes r Cr ty Attorney’s Office for nearly 25 years, serving as Deputy Majo County Attorney and currently Chief of the Major Crimes II Division. Here Cindi oversees nearly 100 attorneys, support staff and paralegals in four bureaus. Scott Blum serves as Auto Theft Bureau Chief; Maryann McKessy is the Fraud and Identity Theft Bureau Chief; Blaine Gadow serves as Family Violence Bureau Chief and Rachel Mitchell is the Sex Crimes Bureau Chief. State v. Jeremias Aguilar Deputy County Attorney Lori Eidemanis, Family Violence Bureau In June 2009, paramedics and police were called to a Chandler home shared by Aguilar and 10 his girlfriend Josefa Talavera and found Baby Selena cold and unresponsive. Initially, Aguilar and Talavera lied to responders about the circumstances of Selena’s injury, claiming the child had fallen. Two hours later, under questioning, Aguilar admitted that he had become frustrated with Selena’s crying and slammed her head onto a concrete floor, adding that he did not call for medical help until hours after the incident. Selena was subsequently found to have a displaced skull fracture and brain swelling. She died twelve days later from a large subdural brain hemorrhage. Josefa Talavera was charged with one class two felony count of child abuse, which was later dismissed after the Court ruled her incompetent to stand trial and not restorable. Deputy County Attorney Lori Eidemanis prosecuted and Judge Robert Gottsfield sentenced Aguilar to 25 years in the Arizona Department of Corrections. He will remain on lifetime probation following his release from prison, which will not be until 2034. Significant Cases cont. State v. James Stark Deputy County Attorney David Lish, Sex Crimes Bureau James Stark was sentenced to seven consecutive life sentences to be followed by an additional 102.5 years in prison after abusing his 8-year-old granddaughter. The Buckeye Police Department investigation found Stark had been touching his 8-year-old granddaughter while living in the same home. The 8 year old disclosed what was happening to a family friend. When the victim’s mother learned of the situation she took the 8 year old to the Buckeye Police Department. In a subsequent forensic interview the child disclosed the defendant had performed a variety of sexual acts on her. Stark was convicted following a 5-day trial on 18 of 19 counts including multiple counts of sexual conduct with a minor, molestation of a child, kidnapping, sexual abuse, indecent exposure and public sexual indecency. State v. William Barajas Deputy County Attorneys Jennifer Sheriff and Suzanne Edwards, Trial Bureau B His spray-painted moniker, “MAWD,” defaced at least 300 structures throughout the Phoenix metro area, making William Barajas the city’s #1 graffiti vandal -- and earning him a two-anda-half year prison sentence. Barajas has also been ordered to perform 300 hours of community service and make financial restitution to more than 75 victims whose property was damaged by his acts of graffiti. Barajas was arrested after he was observed defacing a pole near 2700 W. Glenrosa Avenue in Phoenix. At the time, he was also wanted by Glendale Police for open burglary charges. During interviews with Glendale and Phoenix Police Detectives, Barajas confessed to over 300 acts of graffiti. He was charged with one class 4 felony count of aggravated criminal damage and one class 5 aggregated count of criminal damage for numerous graffiti crimes. Barajas eventually agreed to plead guilty to both of the criminal damage counts as charged, stipulating to the maximum aggravated sentence of two-and-a-half years in prison in addition to community service and restitution. Following his release from prison, Barajas will be on supervised probation for three years. 11 f Chie n o ivisi ald ices D n o Serv McD Bill McDonald, Administrative Services DiviBill nistrative sion Chief oversees support services at the MCAO includ- i Adm ing the Check Enforcement Bureau, Information Technology, Couriers, Facilities Management, Finance, Payroll and the Records Department. Bill served as executive director at two large Phoenix law firms before joining the MCAO in 2010. He also enjoyed a long administrative career with the Arizona Supreme Court. Gary Peet is the Director of Information Technology; Catherine Martin is the Administration Bureau Chief; Melissa Hyde serves as Check Enforcement Business Manager; Dan Hansen is the General Services Manager; Crystal Schriver is the Human Resources Manager; Charlie Eubank is the Records Supervisor and Paula Hargis is the Closeout Bureau Supervisor. Check Enforcement The MCAO Check Enforcement Program is on track for a 20% increase in restitution recovered this year and the number of checks submitted to the office has increased 13% this past year alone. Area businesses are using the program regularly after multiple unsuccessful attempts to collect “bad checks” on their own. Bourget’s Bike Works submitted a non-sufficient funds check to our program and two months later the full amount of the payment was received. Bourget’s was ecstatic that the Check Enforcement Program was able to recover the funds owed to them – and at no cost. ef n Chi Vick is the Pretrial Division Chief, overseeing Vick Ken ial Divisiomore thanKen 100 attorneys, support staff and paralegals in our r Pret Charging, Diversion, Grand Jury, Preliminary Hearings and Southeast Bureaus. Having spent 16 years with the MCAO, Ken previously served as Bureau Chief and has led the Pretrial Division since 2010. Bureau Chiefs in the Pretrial Division include Kurt Mills, Charging; Heather Kirka, Preliminary Hearings A; Suri Reddy, Preliminary Hearings B and Sherry Leckrone, Southeast Pretrial. Pretrial Division The MCAO continues to provide high-quality, cost-effective diversion programs to eligible offenders. The majority of these Diversion programs are coordinated in the Pretrial Division. More than 2,100 first-time possessors of controlled substances completed the TASC diversion program last year. Among the successful completions of TASC last year is Angela C.; originally arrested for possession of methamphetamines. When she began the TASC program she had been a daily meth smoker for six years and was in an abusive relationship. When Angela was informed that she was going to be terminated from TASC, she agreed to enter a detox program. She then entered an intensive outpatient counseling program and moved into a halfway house. She stayed clean. Angela soon obtained employment and her own apartment, culminating in a successful completion of the TASC diversion program. 12 all Chief sh r Ma on ara imes DivisiAs the Chief of our Juvenile Division, Barbara Marb r a r B ile C shall supervises a staff of nearly 50 attorneys, paralegals and support employees. Barbara’s 26 years with the office began as an intern and has included time spent as Bureau Chief and Major Crimes Division Chief. As Juvenile Division Chief, Barbara oversees four juvenile crimes bureaus and the MCAO Adoption Bureau. Bureau Chiefs in the MCAO Juvenile Division include Elizabeth Beringhaus, East Bureau A; Kim Cummings, East Bureau B; Steve Mauger, West Bureau A and Michaella Heslin, West Bureau B. n Juve Adoption The MCAO handles hundreds of uncontested adoptions each year. These children come from all walks of life, many countries and all sizes and ages. The team in the MCAO Adoptions Bureau has assisted many wonderful families who have undertaken enormous challenges by adopting children that others may have overlooked. Recently the Bureau worked with two different families who were adopting a total of five siblings (four girls and one boy), whose mother had given them up and whose father is incarcerated. Because of the dedication and expertise in the Bureau, the children are able to remain together. 13 Service with Integrity – Ensuring Justice For All ey ll y Attorn u a F k C. ty Count Mark Faull has 30 years of criminal justice and r a M Depu public policy experience, most recently serving as Chief f Chie Deputy County Attorney under County Attorney Bill Montgomery. Mark began his career in public service in 1980 when he graduated from the police academy and became a law enforcement officer for the City of Tucson. He then earned his J.D. from the University of Arizona and went on to serve as Deputy Pima County Attorney for 5 years. He has served as a public policy consultant, as the Chief Deputy Prosecuting Attorney with a small prosecutors office and as a senior police administrator for four years prior to coming to the MCAO. He joined the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office in 1999 and has served as Deputy County Attorney, Special Assistant and Special Counsel. As Chief Deputy County Attorney, Mark is responsible for the overall direction and management of the office, including the administration and operations of more than 300 prosecutors and 600 professional support staff. Mark resides in the northeast valley with his wife and their daughter. ery om ontg M ey Elected Maricopa County Attorney in Novemtorn t A y t ber 2010, Bill Montgomery brings a wealth of experiCoun ence and time-tested leadership to the citizens of Maricopa County. He Bill has dedicated his personal and professional life to serving others, as a West Point Graduate, Gulf War Veteran, professional prosecutor and Deputy County Attorney. Bill served with honor and distinction in the first Gulf War, receiving a Bronze Star for meritorious service. Later Bill earned his law degree from ASU. He then went to work at the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office, ris- 14 ing through the ranks to become a Bureau Chief of the Auto Theft Bureau where he helped oversee a reported 35% drop in auto thefts in Maricopa County. As a prosecutor, he is known for garnering tough sentences and ensuring justice. He also has a true passion for protecting Arizonans and acting as an advocate for victims’ rights. He is actively involved in the Arizona Voice for Crime Victims organization and has contributed to written legislation designed to protect victims of crime and reform Child Protective Services. In late 2011, Arizona Governor Jan Brewer appointed Bill to head the Arizona Child Safety Task Force. Bill has also served as an elected Precinct Committeeman and was the Republican Nominee for Arizona Attorney General in 2006. Following that election, Bill served as General Counsel for the Maricopa County Republican Committee until 2008. He believes strongly that all of us can serve our communities, and that you don’t have to hold elective office to make a difference. Bill is proud to support many groups and organizations including: the American Legion, West Point Society of Phoenix, the Service Academy Alumni Association of Phoenix, the National Rifle Association and the Knights of Columbus. Bill lives in the east valley with his wife and their two children.