Detention Officer may Remain in Jail Till After Christmas, Lawyer Says; No Evidence Officer is in Cell After Contempt Order

By Ray Stern Thu., Dec. 3 2009 at 5:28 PM

Categories: All the Sheriff's Men

The county lawyer for a detention officer thrown in jail for contempt of court refused to say on Thursday whether the officer was being held in a cell.

Adam Stoddard (left) was officially booked into jail this morning following two nights he spent in jail "voluntarily," according to his lawyer, Deputy County Attorney Tom Liddy. Because of security precautions, Liddy says, authorities are not releasing "his conditions of confinement." Liddy says Stoddard is in jail and is in compliance with the contempt order, which was issued after Stoddard was caught taking papers from a defense attorney's file during a sentencing hearing.

Whether Stoddard's actually in a jail cell, Liddy won't say.

(Friday update note: We had also asked Liddy whether he considers the staff of the jail to be "in jail." He said yes).

The order by Maricopa County Superior Court Judge Gary Donahoe to jail Stoddard states that the officer should self-surrender to the jail. It says nothing about a cell. When we asked Liddy whether failing to put Stoddard in a cell would violate the spirit of Donahoe's order, Liddy -- a former radio host -- replied, "I don't do spirits."

However, Liddy did admit that Stoddard was getting some special treatment: He was not forced to put on pink underwear or use pink towels like Arpaio typically foists on inmates. Liddy says he bought Stoddard personal items to use and anyone who has a problem with that can call him.

Judge Donahoe reportedly made statements indicating Stoddard would be held until at least after Christmas, Liddy says. More information about that is expected to be released later, he says.

Image: Maricopa County Sheriff's Office

Adam Stoddard's mug shot, via www.heatcity.org

"This is worse than Scrooge," Liddy says. "There's nothing at all that would enable Judge Donahoe to end this gracefully."

As we reported earlier today, the Maricopa County Association of Detention Officers plans to hold a candlelight vigil each night that Stoddard's in jail.

The jailing -- if he's in jail at all, that is -- of Stoddard sparked a protest by detention officers and deputies yesterday outside the courthouse at 201 West Jefferson Street. Also yesterday, about 20 detention officers called in sick, causing 143 criminal cases to be delayed.

Arpaio's chief deputy, Dave Hendershott, tells New Times he doesn't believe anyone called in sick to protest Stoddard's situation. However, he added that he'd be concerned if someone who called in sick yesterday also showed up at the afternoon protest.

Tags:

adam stoddard, arpaio, contempt, detention officers, donahoe, judge, maricopa

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Wo Google mich den lieben Tag hinbringt :) Tolle Seite, ich werde nochmals vorbeischauen.
When do we get to the part where Barney and Otis get all tangled up and then Andy takes Barney's gun away again? Amazingly even here in East Europe people have heard of Arpaio. Thanks to Discovery Channel he can now make the whole country look like a redneck backwash.
Is Stoddard still being paid by the County while he sits in jail ?
Emil, it looks suspect because it's not Stoddard - I think it's my 14 year old paperboy. Are they also going to hold a vigil for Norberg, Farias, and Cotton - and all of the other victims of MCSO's incompetent thuggery????
He should be fired AT ONCE. I have never seen a sheriff's department any place I have lived in the U.S. that has such blatant disregard for the rights of its' citizens and non-citizens. The officer's "excuse" that he was acting in the interest of "court security" is unacceptable. He has no cause to ever lay his eyes on the countents of a defense attorney's files. Those contents are protected and the contents can only become known to the state through the legal process of discovery or warrant. Any officer willing to trample on the constitution should be harshly punished for violating the public trust, not rewarded with the unwaivering support of his colleagues. What does this say about the state of law enforcement in Arizona? We should be having candlight vigils for the rights and freedoms we are losing at the hands of such officers.
The photo inset showing the uniformed deputy at top, identified in the text as Stoddard, seems to have a crew-cut. The photo identified as Stoddard's "mug shot" shows much longer hair and of a much darker color. When did Stoddard decide to grow his hair out and how long did that take? Did he decide to dye it or is there some other explanation? Also, the "mug shot" appears unusual in several respects. At the very least, it's highly informal.
Stoddard appears to be using his radio in that picture. Have you considered a FOIA request for radio transmissions that may have been recorded that day? ---------------------------------- I had a friend in the system who got hold of the transmissions transcript. Here it is: "Me, Adam." "Did ya do what I said?" "Yes, Sheriff Joe." "Grab it." "But the Judge is right here." "To hell with the Judge. You remember I'm Top Dog around here." "Yes, Sheriff Joe." "Do what you're told." "Okay shucks. Y adon't have to get rash. I got it." "And you remember what I like to be called." "Yes." "Say it." "But, Sheriff Joe, I'm in Court." "SAT IT!" "Duce. Your IL DUCE!" "Thanks . Now grab some forms. And get the other guy to Xerox it." "Roger."
We should hold a candlelight vigil CELEBRATING Stoddard's jail time.
Stoddard appears to be using his radio in that picture. Have you considered a FOIA request for radio transmissions that may have been recorded that day? You may be able to hear exactly what he said to his superiors and it might lead to a boss ordering him to snag the document.
Yes, OMG, it's a pattern we've come to expect. It's just that the colors in that pattern are becoming increasingly more vivid and prominent than they were in years past.
They're reportedly looking into the actions and decision making of Arpaio, and selective, discriminatory, special treatment for an "inmate" (if Stoddard IS an inmate) based on nothing more than loyalty to Arpaio would be Arpaio's call.
The greatest concern I have is that stuff like this is not surprising me anymore. It certainly offends me, but it does not surprise me. AARPaio and Thomas's antics have increased slowly, allowing us to get used to each encroachment before moving further into offending the law and common decency.
the FBI dont give a shit about some low wage bottom feeder guy like this. give me a break.
that boy is a known homosexual. look at his face. he talks with a lisp. need i say more?
I'd like to think that the FBI is watching this matter very closely, keeping close track of the apparent special treatment Stoddard is being given for no other reason than the sheriff wants him to have special treatment. Maybe, just maybe, Arpaio is being given enough rope to hang himself with.
What the idiot cop and the sheriff does is called a COUP – an attempt to overthrow constitutional order by force. Something that happens very often in third world countries, but what is fairly, shall we say ORIGINAL for the US (at least if it comes to having it done openly by some sheriff). Since the cop mutants are obviously too STUPID to figure it out 1. The judge cannot actually change his own ruling out of his own initiative. His decision can be appealed, but even he cannot change it now without an appeal. 2. Even if he procedurally could do it, there is NO WAY any court in the world would rule that an idiot cop dog can rampage through a defense counsel's documents and take what he likes. It goes against every single principle a court of law is about. 3. Yes, the sheriff is an elected official which gives him some "powers". But, directly pressuring a superior court judge to get even for a ruling that he made is at the very, very top of the no nos for a sheriff. A sheriff is supposed to be the enforcer dog for the judge, the moment he goes against the judge in his official capacity, he is completely breaking the law in the worst way imaginable. 4. The idiot sheriff and cop unions pressuring the superior court judge is a coup and it could also be referred to as terrorism. It's a direct assault on judicial branch, an attempt to overthrow the constitutional order. Since it is done by Sheriff and the cop union with guns, the judge is obligated to call a different group of guys with guns to restore order if it becomes necessary. He does not even have a choice in that matter. A judge cannot surrender judicial branches powers to the pressure of the sheriff. If he did, he would no longer be a judge, and a higher level judge would have to do what that judge did not do. 5. To make it short, if the cops don’t come to their senses soon, the US army should come in and arrest every single idiot cop there and throw them in federal prison. That's what has to be done if stupid cops continue to try to overthrow the court's independence. 6. If the idiot cops actually somehow succeeded in getting the army involved, you can kiss what's left of US's dollar value good bye, as it would be a clear proof to everyone that the US has gone completely NUTS! 7. Shortly on the horizon, I am seeing the FBI hauling the idiot sheriff off to a federal penitentiary. They should not even have any leeway in that matter. The longer they hesitate, the more dangerous it becomes.
Once again, it's one set of standards for the Sheriff's office and another for the ordinary person. The abuse of power and disruption to the government is nothing more than an Hunta like a Third World dictatorship. Those who remain silent are complicit in the corruption. People are watching and will take action this election. It's time for arpaio and thomas to resign. Thomas should be investigating the MCSO. Where's the 24/7 grandstanding on this abuse of power? Who's protecting these clowns?
When this joker goes back to court to get out of jail, do you think he'd mind if I went through his lawyers papers and copied a few things? I can claim I saw "Dumb" "Shit" and "Steal papers" and claim it was a threat to the world as we know it! I did see his lawyer whining about how while he was in jail he couldn't go to his college classes. Two comments: 1)Then apologize, you idiot 2)is he going to "mall cop college"?
Deputy Adam Stoddard not only gives conflicting reasons of why he committed a crime he and his comrades arrogantly thumb noses at rule of law while endangering public safety. A more flagrant disregard for the rule of law and the rights of the people is hard to come by. No less than the founding fathers of this great country, put together the bill of rights to protect the people from these very abuses. The 1st amendment is there to protect your professions ability put these criminal acts under the spotlight which hopefully leads to Stoddard’s day in court where a jury can sort it out and he can enjoy the desire for his rights to be protected. The rule of law applies to all and combined with freedom of the press keeps us free from tyranny. Stoddard broke the law by violating no less than 2 amendments to the constitution when he violated the attorney’s Forth Amendment right and the defendant’s Sixth Amendment right. Fourth Amendment – Protection from unreasonable search and seizure. The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized. The fourth amendment is quite clear. For there to be probable cause, a person has to swear under oath that he or she saw the exact information or item that the government is in search of, and knows where it is, and is willing to swear under threat of prosecution for perjury as to the exact item and its whereabouts. In other words, fishing expeditions by government employees, AKA police is illegal and unconstitutional and definitely applies to attorney papers and effects. Sixth Amendment – Trial by jury and rights of the accused; Confrontation Clause, speedy trial, public trial, right to counsel In all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall enjoy the right to a speedy and public trial, by an impartial jury of the State and district where in the crime shall have been committed, which district shall have been previously ascertained by law, and to be informed of the nature and cause of the accusation; to be confronted with the witnesses against him; to have compulsory process for obtaining witnesses in his favor, and to have the Assistance of Counsel for his defense. If the prosecutor can search through counsel’s papers and notes the defendant is being deprived of counsel. An attorneys notes about shortcomings, misrepresentations, lies and tactics of the prosecutions case are the tools which he uses to pick apart the prosecutions case, and to have any value must never be viewed by the prosecution until presented to the jury. Only evidence is to be shared, any more is downright illegal and constitutes a mistrial. The purpose of attorney-client privilege is encourage the defendant to provide information pertaining to their case without fear that the information will be revealed to others, namely the prosecution, this encourages full disclosure in the pursuit of justice. If the Arizona attorney general allows this crime and contempt for the law to go unpunished it will be proof enough to the people of America that Arizona prosecutors are corrupt and their convictions not credible.
put him in robert cottons old cell and have the correctional officers turn their back on him. Why is he getting special treament.??? feds need to be informed. profiling parole officers
those sick out need to be fired, get your butt to work or kiss off. if one got fired the rest would not be so brazen.
he needs to be in a cell, he had no business going thru that paper work, while the atty was pleading her case . he had his obtion , and he choose jail, so put his a** in jail . screw him, little pinnoceo
Stoddard is in jail and getting paid at the same time. The tea baggers should be outraged. The Goldwater Institute should be outraged. Heck.. I'm a parent of teenagers barely making ends meet and I am outraged!
Pink underwear and towels followed by homophobic comments from both sides. What a great state you guys have. To add fuel to the fire, if this guy had "balls" he would volunteer to go to general pop instead of playing Nintendo in some air conditioned office.
He's really at the jail? Heck, I thought he was probably in Hawaii.
Stoddard is not in a cell, he is sitting in an office inside the jail. He is still being paid regular wages. This comes from a Detention Supervisor, one of few who can be trusted.
Screw you cop hater. I bet you are a big pussy, you faggot. This guy has the balls to deal with scum like you every day.
that boy looks like a pussy. and he talks like a queer on tv with a lisp.