Officer Who Took Lawyer's Paperwork Reports to Jail
A Phoenix-area courtroom officer who inexplicably took paperwork from a defense lawyer’s files mid-hearing in October has reported to jail rather than apologize.
Adam Stoddard self-surrendered at 6 p.m. Tuesday to the Maricopa County jail, reports ABC 15.
Stoddard was found in contempt of court for his actions on Oct. 19, when he walked across a courtroom behind public defender Joanne Cuccia and removed a document from her files, then had another officer make a copy. The incident, which drew national attention, was captured on court surveillance video.
He’s explained that he was on the prowl for contraband and saw suspicious words on the document.
As punishment, in lieu of jail, he had been ordered to hold a public press conference and apologize by Monday to Cuccia. With the full backing of his boss, Sheriff Joe Arpaio, Stoddard refused to apologize.
Ultimately, Arpaio allowed his deputy to surrender, but pledged to appeal.
“I’m very angry about this,” ABC 15 quotes him saying. “For political reasons, he was thrown to the wolves.”
Related Coverage:
CBS 5: “County Detention Officer Reports To Jail”
Simple Justice: “Showdown in Maricopa (Update x 4; Stoddard Spends Night in Jail Voluntarily)”
