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Audit of seized funds skewers former Pinal County lawmen
The Arizona Auditor General on August 20 released a report that detailed how former Pinal County Sheriff Paul Babeu and Pinal County Attorney Lando Voyles misused asset forfeiture funds for years.
Judge rules civil forfeiture case can proceed, legality of state laws at issue
A federal judge on Aug. 18 gave the go-ahead for a broad-based challenge to Arizona statutes that allow police and prosecutors to profit from items they seize.
Law enforcement predicts seizures won’t be curbed by changes
Arizona law enforcement officials say landmark changes enacted this year to the state’s civil asset forfeiture program won’t do much to curb the ability of police to seize cash and property from those they suspect of breaking the law.
Babeu administration under criminal investigation by federal grand jury
The Pinal County Sheriff’s Office’s use of seized criminal funds under former Sheriff Paul Babeu is under criminal investigation by a federal grand jury.
Pinal County civil forfeiture suit heating up
A lawsuit central to the civil asset forfeiture debate in Arizona will see progress this month after months of stagnation.
Wary of abuse, lawmakers move to tighten civil forfeiture laws
A wide-ranging measure to reform the state’s civil asset forfeiture laws would scrap the current standard that requires prosecutors to prove only by a “preponderance of the evidence” that the property is linked to a crime. That standard essentially means it is more likely than not, akin to a 51-49 percent balance.
3 best known Arizona sheriffs out in new year
Arizona's three most populous counties now have new sheriffs after the election defeats of top lawmen in Pima and Maricopa counties and the decision by the Pinal County sheriff to make a failed bid for a congressional seat.
A look at Arizona election winners, losers
Election Day in Arizona saw Republicans winning the presidential vote despite Democratic efforts to tap into the state's growing demographic shift, a GOP sweep of statewide utility regulator races, and a sturdy defense of a swing congressional district in southern Arizona.
O’Halleran wins race against Babeu in CD1
Democrats held onto their seat on Arizona’s 1st Congressional District, as Democrat Tom O’Halleran holds a commanding lead over Republican Paul Babeu.
Dems call in out-of-state reinforcement to slam Babeu
Katherine Clark, a Massachusetts congresswoman and former attorney with the Massachusetts Office of Child Care Services, traveled to Phoenix to slam Babeu over his time as headmaster and executive director of the unlicensed DeSisto boarding school in her home state.
Asset forfeit lawsuit wields political clout in Pinal County
With Paul Babeu stepping away from his county office for a run in the 1st Congressional District, there’s going to be a new sheriff in Pinal County.
O’Halleran, Babeu differ sharply on tax cutting, spending in CD1 debate
The question of when to cut taxes pointed up the sharp division on September 28 between the two contenders to replace Ann Kirkpatrick in Congress.
