Pinal County Animal Care & Control removed nearly 100 dogs and exotic birds from a home in Maricopa on Tuesday in a case of "extreme animal hoarding," reports azfamily.com.
Two people apparently lived in the contaminated home, which was reportedly covered in garbage and several inches of fecal manner, according to Animal Control.
"We worked this incident in fear for our own health," Kaye Dickson told azfamily.com. "I cannot fathom how the two adult residents were able to live there."
]]> The animals were reportedly voluntarily surrendered to authorities, but the Maricopa County Animal Care and Control shelter is exceeding capacity and working under emergency conditions, according to Dickson.Animal hoarding is a serious condition that can have legal consequences if taken too far. Animal hoarders are defined as people who accumulate large numbers of animals but fail to provide minimal standards of care for their health because they cannot recognize the negative effects of their hoarding behavior.
Animal hoarding is generally prosecuted under misdemeanor animal cruelty statutes and penalties can include fines, animal forfeiture and jail time. Convicted hoarders may also be banned or limited from having future pets.
Since 1997, Arizona has reportedly had 36 reported cases of hoarding, according to azfamily.com. This most recent case of animal hoarding, however, may arguably be one of the most extreme cases yet.
If you believe you or someone you know may have a problem with animal hoarding, see our Related Resources section for more information on animal rights and hoarding. There are resources available to help with the problem before it becomes a serious legal or health issue.
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Although they have not officially confirmed the identities of the bodies, many believe the victims to be Lawrence and Glenna Shapiro. Family members reportedly released a statement saying they were “shocked and saddened at the loss of our parents who were so loved by their family and community,” according to The Republic.
]]> Lawrence has reportedly been a doctor in the Valley for more than 45 years, while Glenna was the CEO of the National Kidney Foundation of Arizona for 30 years, according to ABC15 News. The Shapiros had just celebrated their 50th anniversary in 2010.Paradise Valley police officers found the burning home and bodies after Phoenix police informed them that a burning car registered to the Shapiros’ address was found. Both the Phoenix and Paradise Valley forces are working together, along with the Secret Service and other agencies, on the possible homicide and arson investigation.
Hopefully, the perpetrators will be found and caught, which may happen sooner-than-later since the Phoenix Fire Department reportedly has the highest arson clearance rate in the United States.
Under Arizona law, arson of an occupied structure is a class 2 felony. If the fire was maliciously set, whoever was responsible could be facing significant consequences, especially with the possible addition of homicide charges.
For more information on the crime of arson, see our Related Resources section.
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The Glendale Police Department is accused of attaching GPS tracking devices to cars without a warrant in order to follow the movements of Jerice Hunter, the mother of missing 5-year-old Jhessye Shockley, according to ABC15 News.
]]> Hunter has been under police investigation since her daughter disappeared in October. Jhessye’s case has received national attention, but police have not been able to officially name a suspect or find the body. Authorities have stated that they don’t expect to find the young girl alive, however.Officers would not comment on the techniques they have employed in their investigation of Jhessye’s case, but Hunter’s attorney, Scott Maasen, has said at least three GPS devices were found on the cars of friends who drive Hunter around, according to ABC15.
Maasen claims one of Hunter’s friends found strange boxes under his and his wife’s cars. Police allegedly stopped him and confiscated the boxes before he could show the devices to a dealer.
Upholding the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals, the Supreme Court had just ruled last week that GPS tracking of a suspect is a search under the Fourth Amendment.
“We need police to play by the rules,” Maasen told ABC15.
If the police do arrest Hunter for Jhessye’s disappearance, Maasen said he would bring up the GPS tracking in court.
If you believe your constitutional rights have been violated by the police during an arrest or criminal investigation, you should consider speaking with an experienced criminal defense attorney or public defender. He or she can inform you of your rights under the law and if you have any possible defenses or claims.
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Forty-seven-year-old Moses Antonio Shepard reportedly stalked the victim for nearly two decades through six states after a single date in New York City in 1992.
Under Arizona law, a person commits stalking if his or her actions cause a reasonable person to fear for his or her safety, and the victim is in fact afraid.
]]> Shepard’s criminal activities included calling the victim at all hours of the night, sending letters containing personal information about the victim, and hanging out near places the victim frequented.Shepard’s actions followed the victim all over the country as she tried to escape his harassment. From New Mexico to Arizona to California and to Connecticut, his letters followed her, according to The Republic.
The harassment came to a head in 2010, which prompted the victim to apply for a restraining order in Connecticut. Shepard was finally arrested in Tucson in April 2010, where he had moved in 2004 to be closer to her, according to a letter he wrote.
Shepard now faces 10 years in prison for felony stalking. Stalking is typically a class 5 felony. However, if the victim fears for his or her life, it is bumped up to a class 3 felony.
Ironically, January is National Stalking Awareness Month, a time when organizations across the country educate communities about stalking and its effects. For more information on the crime of stalking, see our Related Resources section.
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Examples like the situation with Bundgaard have led a state lawmaker to introduce legislation repealing legislative immunity, reports the Associated Press.
]]> According to Arizona state law, legislators are granted immunity from arrest or civil process for 15 days before and during the course of a legislative session “in all cases except treason, felony, and breach of the peace.”Charges were eventually filed against Bundgaard after the legislative session was over, but critics cite the incident as an example of unfair and outdated protection given to legislators.
“The question is should legislators have a get-out-of-jail free card,” said state Senator Steve Gallardo, who introduced the legislation. “And I really think voters would come out and say no - they should not have this card.”
Legislative immunity also helped Governor Jan Brewer get out of an arrest for suspicion of DUI during a freeway accident in 1988 when she was also a legislator, according to the Associated Press. Although she didn’t invoke the privilege, police officers identified her as a state lawmaker and decided they couldn’t arrest her.
Gallardo’s bill has been assigned to a Senate committee, but we’ll see if it actually gets to the November ballot.
For more information on the principle of legislative immunity, see our Related Resources section.
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Whitehead originally faced charges of four counts of sex assault, attempted sex assault and lewdness, but he pleaded the equivalent of no contest last September in a deal with prosecutors in order to avoid trial, according to the Associated Press.
Typically, prosecutors will enter into a plea bargain with the defendant in order to assure a conviction. Conversely, defendants will agree to the deal in order to get a lighter sentence and possibly avoid trial.
]]> The charges stem from separate incidents in which Whitehead allegedly attacked a 32-year-old woman while she slept and groped a 28-year-old woman at his home following a party.In addition to his one-to-four year prison sentence, Whitehead must also register as a sex offender and pay restitution. Whitehead was reportedly sobbing following his sentencing hearing on Thursday, according to the Associated Press.
If Whitehead had committed the crimes in Arizona, he would have been charged with a class 2 felony, which is punishable by a maximum of 14 years in prison.
Previously with Ultimate Fighting Championship, Michael “Iron Mike” Whitehead was released and fighting under Strikeforce at the time of his arrest, according to fighters.com.
If you have been charged with the crimes of sexual assault or lewdness, you should consider speaking with an experienced Phoenix criminal defense attorney. They can assess your case and, if necessary, enter into plea bargain discussions with prosecutors.
For more information on plea bargaining, see our Related Resources section.
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Take, for example, the case of “spiritual” leader James Ray, who was found guilty of negligent homicide for the deaths of three people during a sweat lodge ceremony.
]]> Ray's criminal defense attorneys appealed his conviction, but Ray allegedly could not afford to pay them or the costs of an appeal because he is $11 million in debt, according to the Associated Press. Although his attorneys agreed to represent him for free, or pro bono, Ray claimed he could not afford the cost of accessing necessary court records and transcripts.Ray is now requesting that a judge declare him indigent to waive the administrative costs of the appeal. Prosecutors, however, can challenge the request and have asked for evidence that he's truly broke, including financial records showing he is not receiving royalties from self-help books, DVDs, online coaching services, and retirement accounts, according to the Associated Press.
A hearing will be held regarding Ray's indigence request. If Ray is able to prove that he is not receiving any income, and truly cannot afford his appeal, the costs of his appeal might be waived. If his criminal defense attorneys had not agreed to represent him pro bono, a court would also appoint government-funded counsel to represent him.
For more information on criminal appeals, see our Related Resources section.
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The Department of Justice believes revising the definition of sexual assault may help increase the accuracy of reporting sexual assault crimes, and increase understanding about the effects of sexual assault crimes on victims. It recently announced a significant expansion to its definition, which will now include several forms of sexual assault, such as oral penetration, and male rape, according to The Washington Post.
]]> The antiquated definition of sexual assault previously referred only to the "carnal knowledge of a female, forcibly and against her will," according to The Post.The definition of rape has evolved over the years from its original 1929 definition. For example, rape did not apply to assaults between spouses. Now, rape encompasses non-consensual sexual intercourse committed even by offenders who have a pre-existing relationship with the victims.
The new definition's use in the FBI's annual Uniform Crime Report will be the first step in its implementation, according to The Post.
"This sends a powerful message that...rape is rape," Susan B. Carbon of the Justice Department's Office on Violence Against Women said in a conference call. "It's rape even if you're a man. It's rape even if you are raped with an object and even if you were too drunk to consent."
For more information on Arizona's rape and sexual assault laws and resources for Phoenix crime victims, see our Related Resources section.
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Forty-six-year-old John Bain was arrested on Tuesday on charges of three counts of sexual assault, three counts of molestation of a child, two counts of child prostitution, and four counts of furnishing obscene material to a child.
Both victims were reportedly acquaintances of Bain. Police became aware of Bain’s actions when the first victim reported Bain’s lewd conduct to police in November 2011.
]]> The victim claimed Bain walked into her bedroom and attempted to remove her clothing, according to Phoenix authorities. Although the victim fought him off, Bain allegedly threatened her against telling anyone. The victim also said she was forced to watch pornographic material, and Bain offered her money for lewd activities - $15 to remove her clothing and $30 to kiss him. The victim's family member later received an order of protection against Bain after the details came to light, according to ABC 15.During police investigations into the first victim's report, Phoenix authorities discovered another 10-year-old victim who claimed Bain also molested her when she was 8 and 9. Bain allegedly also put his hands under the victim's clothing, removed her underwear, and forced her to watch pornographic material.
Given the number and severity of crimes charged against him, Bain will likely need an experienced Phoenix criminal defense attorney or public defender to represent him in court. The crime of molestation of a child alone is a class 2 felony that carries a maximum 24-year prison sentence.
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A jury was chosen this week and opening statements were set to go on Thursday in the trial of suspected bombers Dennis and Daniel Mahon.
]]> The 61-year-old Mahons, allegedly white supremacists, are accused of sending a bomb to Logan, Scottsdale's black diversity director, in 2004. The package injured his hand and arm and hurt a secretary. The Mahons were arrested in 2009 on suspicion of conspiracy to damage buildings and property by means of explosive. Dennis Mahon also received the additional charges of malicious damage of a building by means of explosive and distribution of information related to explosives.Conspiracy to damage buildings and property by means of explosive is a federal felony, punishable by up to ten years in prison. Malicious damage of a building by means of explosive is punishable by a minimum of 5 years and a maximum of 20 years in prison.
"That someone would come to Arizona and launch an attack simply because my skin color is different from theirs, simply because of hate ... is unconscionable," said Logan shortly after Daniel Mahon's arrest.
The long delay in bringing the case to trial has been blamed on the extensive amount of evidence both sides have had to sift through. The evidence reportedly includes years of video and audio recordings between the Mahons and an undercover female government informant, according to the Associated Press.
With such serious charges against them, the Mahons have several criminal defense attorneys representing them. If you have been charged with a crime, you should also consider consulting the services of an experienced criminal defense attorney. If you cannot afford one, a public defender will be appointed to you by the court.
In such a high-profile case like this one, some private attorneys may also offer their services pro bono. For more information on your right to representation in criminal trials, please see our Related Resources section.
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Phoenix police officers were called to the home at around midnight after receiving reports that shots had been fired in a Phoenix backyard. The teenage girl had suffered a gunshot wound to the leg. No one else was reported injured.
Officers arrived to find guests fleeing the home and detained a 1997 Pontiac and its passengers as it sped from the area. Although police questioned six "investigative leads," they were later released when officers could not determine if the weapon found in the car was related to the shooting, according to azfamily.com.
]]> If caught, the shooter could face several years in prison for aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, which is a class 3 felony.Typically, the use of a deadly weapon - such as a handgun or knife - constitutes aggravated assault, which is punished more severely than simple assault. Whether or not the object used to commit the assault is considered a deadly weapon depends on the manner in which the object is used during the attack.
Interestingly, if the victim had been celebrating her fourteenth birthday party, the crime would be categorized as a class 2 felony. The identity of the victim often elevates the offense to a more serious crime, such as if the attack was committed on law enforcement or a minor.
Anyone with information about the birthday party shooting is asked to call Silent Witness at 480-WITNESS. For more information on the crime of aggravated assault, see our Related Resources section.
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Family and friends reportedly found instructions for funeral arrangements and other details at the couple’s northeast Phoenix home, according to Scottsdale police. A housekeeper also reportedly found a suicide note on the door of their motel bedroom stating there were two suicides inside, Sgt. Mark Clark told The Republic. When police arrived, they found two handguns near the bodies.
Although police are calling the case a death investigation until the medical examiner’s preliminary report is released in a few days, Clark said it was “pretty clear something was planned.”
]]> Heywood and his wife had been married for 35 years, but had recently been facing medical and financial problems, according to The Republic. The couple reportedly filed for bankruptcy in August 2009, and lost their home to foreclosure around the same time. Susan was also reportedly experiencing declining health due to a heart condition.Although the couple has been described as extremely close, and their deaths the end of a “complete romance,” the circumstances of their deaths could have had serious implications if something had gone wrong. Assisted suicide is against the law in most states. If one of the Heywoods had survived, either could have been charged with homicide. However, it is not against the law to commit, or to attempt to commit, suicide.
Despite the circumstances of their deaths, friends and family of Susan and Bill Heywood have been focusing on the love they shared while they were alive.
“He really needed her,” former radio personality Preston Westmoreland said of Heywood. “She was part of his strength. This was a couple that just really belonged together.”
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Scottsdale police arrested three residents on Monday in connection with the burglary of the Apple Store at the Scottsdale Quarter, reports The Arizona Republic. Three suspects are still on the loose.
Officers believe 19-year-old James Combs, 18-year-old Daniella Sierra and an unidentified 17-year-old were among a group of six who did a smash-and-grab of around $80,000 of Apple electronic and computer products. That’s a lot of iPads, iPhones and iPods.
]]> Fortunately, a cab driver in the area was brave enough to follow the suspects' vehicle while it sped away from the scene despite reportedly getting shot at, according to The Republic.Police were able to track down the suspects and recover some of the merchandise after receiving information from the cab driver and Scottsdale Quarter security. Officers found the three suspects hiding in the area near the getaway car and arrested them on suspicion of felony burglary and weapons charges.
Arizona law divides burglary into three degrees, with first degree burglary charged against those who are suspected of committing a burglary while possessing a deadly weapon or dangerous instrument. Burglary in the first degree of a nonresidential structure is a class 3 felony. If convicted of the charges, the three could spend a long time in prison for their crimes.
Despite their arrests, however, they are still innocent until proven guilty, and they will be given the opportunity to defend themselves in court, either with the assistance of a criminal defense attorney or public defender. If you have been arrested on suspicion of committing a crime, especially if it's a felony, you should consider speaking with the criminal defense attorney about your legal options as well.
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Adam Hernandez was arrested after allegedly shooting at police officers and holding two people hostage at the Chandler Fashion Center in January. He was charged with 14 felonies, including two counts of attempted murder, three counts of kidnapping, and armed robbery.
2. The death of Ame Deal
Phoenix residents were horrified to hear of the death of 10-year-old Ame Deal who was found suffocated in a plastic footlocker. A couple, John and Samantha Allen, were arrested on first degree murder charges and are accused of forcing Ame into the footlocker for taking a popsicle out of the freezer.
3. The disappearance of Jhessye Shockley
The mystery of missing five-year-old Jhessye Shockley has gained national attention since she went missing in October. Glendale police have since stated they do not expect to find the young girl alive. Shockley's mother, Jerice Hunter, has been a target of police investigations but no charges have been filed against anyone as police continue to search for her body.
4. Anything involved with Sheriff Joe Arpaio
The infamous Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio has been in the news a lot in 2011. From being accused of violating civil rights laws by the Department of Justice to being sued along with action star Steven Seagal for a cockfight raid, it seems Sheriff Joe has been a target of legal violation accusations as much as he has been an enforcer in 2011.
5. Jared Loughner's shooting rampage
The man accused of attempting to assassinate Rep. Gabrielle Giffords has both repulsed and fascinated people from across the country. The reports of Loughner's shooting rampage in January that left six people dead and 14 people injured, as well as subsequent legal battles, have dominated national headlines. Although Giffords has miraculously fought her way through recovery, Loughner's fate still awaits.
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Take, for example, a Scottsdale woman who could be facing animal neglect charges for housing 27 small dogs and several reptiles in her home, according to azfamily.com.
]]> Ironically, authorities came to the woman's home because she called on a domestic violence claim. While investigating the domestic violence situation, police were surprised to find an animal-filled, excrement-layered home.Animal hoarders are defined as people who accumulate large numbers of animals but fail to provide minimal standards of care for their health. Hoarders, however, do not recognize the effects their behavior has on the animals and often believe no one else can take care of them.
Animal hoarding is generally prosecuted under misdemeanor animal cruelty statutes and penalties can include fines, animal forfeiture and jail time, according to azfamily.com. Convicted hoarders may also be completely banned or limited in having pets.
Since 1997, Arizona has had 36 reported cases of hoarding, according to pet-abuse.com. However, since authorities aren't usually called in until something tragic happens, there may likely be more cases that remain uninvestigated.
If you believe you or someone you know may have a problem with animal hoarding, there are resources available to help with the problem before it becomes a legal issue.
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