Login

Register | Forgot Your Password? | Close
AP: 3cd638e3-cc14-4c69-8512-59924e3fc60b
Mary Rose Wilcox, a Maricopa County Board of Supervisors member who had a criminal case brought against her by then-Maricopa County Attorney Andrew Thomas, leaves the Arizona State Courts building after an ethics panel moved to disbar Thomas, Tuesday, April 10, 2012, in Phoenix. An Arizona ethics panel ruled to disbar Thomas, Maricopa County's former top prosecutor, for failed corruption investigations he and Sheriff Joe Arpaio, America's self-proclaimed toughest sheriff, conducted targeting officials with whom they were having political and legal disputes. The three-member disciplinary panel of the Arizona courts found that ex-County Attorney Andrew Thomas violated the professional rules of conduct for lawyers in bringing criminal charges against two county officials and a judge in December 2009. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

PHOENIX - A U.S. District Court judge awarded $975,000 dollars Friday to Maricopa County Supervisor Mary Rose Wilcox in her claim against Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio and former County Attorney Andrew Thomas.

The claim stems from allegations of abuse of power and prosecutions and lawsuits motivated more by politics than criminal behavior.

"This has been a long journey for Mary Rose [Wilcox]," said her attorney, Colin Campbell. "If you'll recall, she was indicted twice by the sheriff and by now-disbarred County Attorney Thomas. Both those indictments were dismissed. They charged her in a civil racketeering lawsuit. That action was dismissed."

Campbell said Wilcox believes she was targeted because she's opposed to Arpaio's immigration sweeps.

"It was always Mary Rose's position that these were retaliatory actions against her because she opposed the sheriff's immigration sweeps," he said. "She was maliciously prosecuted. The people who did it have been brought to justice and she received some compensation for the injuries she suffered."

The money will not come from Maricopa County's general budget, but a designated fund.

"Generally, when the county is sued or, you name it -- a car accident or someone's hurt somewhere or this kind of lawsuit -- it would be paid out of our risk management [fund]," said Carrie Gierchick with the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors. "It's not our general budget."

Former County Manager David Smith reached an agreement on the settlement amount last month based on legal and cost analysis by retired Judge Christopher Skelly.

Skelly acted as a mediator for the county and determined that Wilcox's settlement would be cheaper than litigating it in court.

A 2010 resolution approved by the supervisors gave Smith authority to negotiate settlements relating to legal claims in longstanding disputes between county officials and Arpaio and Thomas.

Arpaio and Thomas were also ordered to pay Wilcox's attorney fees.

Gierchick said five other county officials and employes who filed jointly in the same suit against the county are still awaiting a resolution.

Information from the Associated Press was used in this report.

share this story:
facebook

31 Comments   |   Join the conversation »
  • Add A Comment 
  • Abuse
    voiceofreality wrote...
    This isn't the first time she milked the
    May 11, 2012 3:55 pm
    county for money . Illegally tore down a historic home if I recall . Voted favorably for contracts then received loans from same. And I am sure won't be the last.
  • Abuse
    wrote...
    more theft
    May 11, 2012 4:20 pm
    of taxpayer money by this skank. when will the people wise up to her game?! this is why we know that politics is corrupt.
  • Abuse
    The Conservative wrote...
    What
    May 11, 2012 6:46 pm
    a witch....she shouldn't have gotten a d**n dime!
  • Abuse
    Solitaire wrote...
    Evil Women
    May 11, 2012 7:55 pm
    Wish I was in her district to count as one more vote for someone else to get her out. Have had enough of trespassers taking our revenue dollars. Along with false claims. Lets get the truth out on how much illegal veg off of our society and give little back. Sweep them out of here. Thank you Joe, Brewer and Pierce for all your hard work.
  • Abuse
    nokidding wrote...
    Official reaction
    May 11, 2012 8:08 pm
    Their reply about where the funds to pay the bloodsucker's payday come from and they say; a special "risk management" resource. Okay, now it's been drained by the tune of 1M. We need to replace it with,....wait for it.......Tax payers dollars! If she wanted to make a real point she would donate the proceeds to charity.
  • Abuse
    wrote...
    Now
    May 11, 2012 8:29 pm
    she has some money to support the criminal illegal invaders she advocates for.
  • Abuse
    losinmyreligion wrote...
    just keep passing
    May 11, 2012 8:41 pm
    the bills over to the taxpayer, as usual.. :(
  • Abuse
    Michoacan wrote...
    As noted in the Justice Department lawsuit,
    May 11, 2012 9:08 pm
    Arpaio has engaged in a pattern and practice of retaliatory actions against perceived critics of MCSO. It has cost us millions, with millions more to yet be paid. Why? Because of Arpaio's obscenely bloated ego, not because of any legitimate law enforcement purpose.
  • Abuse
    wrote...
    I guess that
    May 12, 2012 4:48 am
    proves the old saying" It's not who you know, but who you".
  • Abuse
    Beanie wrote...
    Here are some facts
    May 12, 2012 7:20 am
    about Wilcox. While it was Thomas and Arpaio that filed charges, you must remember that a Grand Jury indicted Wilcox on 36 criminal counts. That does not mean she is guilty, but that there was enough evidence to bring her to court. After cleverly crying foul, she got the case transferred to Gila County Attorney Daisy Flores. Now, before you jump straight to the race card, I point this out because she is a republican, not because she is Hispanic. It was a gamble on her (Wilcox) part to have it reviewed in Gila County, but her chances were greater there than here.
  • Abuse
    Beanie wrote...
    Part 2
    May 12, 2012 7:21 am
    Additionally, this was the same prosecutor that dismissed charges against Stapley, that had even (gasp) EJ Montini crying foul (1). Wilcox was elected in 1992 and ran uncontested in 2000, 2004 and 2008, mainly because voters initially applauded her bravery for returning to public office after being shot for her beliefs that she did not need voter approval to raise taxes. Wilcox has been Indicted twice by a grand jury -- only to see her charges dropped and her accuser face potential disbarment. She has also been accused of a shady deal at sky harbor (3).
  • Abuse
    Beanie wrote...
    Part 3
    May 12, 2012 7:22 am
    Now, the other issue is Joe Arpaio and Andrew Thomas. Thomas was given his day in court and the legal system kicked him out and the DOJ (and the voters) have their chance to "judge" the sheriff in the near future. Regardless of which side you are on, ALL of these court hearings are political and have NOTHING to do with actual justice, IMO. Somewhere, on the streets of Phoenix, Larry Naman (2) is laughing his butt off about this whole thing (or reloading for round 2).
  • Abuse
    Minuteman wrote...
    Did she benefit
    May 12, 2012 7:49 am
    by using her position to get special low interest loan from a company she help reward contracts to? Congress can no longer benefit from their position on stocks..She is corrupt.
    Protect our borders and our communities
  • Abuse
    Michoacan wrote...
    She got this million because Arpaio
    May 12, 2012 8:07 am
    abused his law enforcement authority and criminally conspired with others to deprive Wilcox and others of their rights.
  • Abuse
    Steve wrote...
    Not always a fan of Arpaio
    May 12, 2012 9:17 am
    but this is pathetic on her part.
  • Abuse
    Steve wrote...
    Wilcox should be embarrassed
    May 12, 2012 9:19 am
    .
  • Abuse
    Michoacan wrote...
    She will be. An embarrassment of riches,
    May 12, 2012 11:52 am
    Granted to her, out of our pockets, by none other than criminal conspirator Joe Arpaio.
  • Abuse
    Minuteman wrote...
    Unable
    May 12, 2012 3:36 pm
    To answer the tough questions as usual abo
    Protect our borders and our communities
  • Abuse
    Michoacan wrote...
    You don't ask tough questions.
    May 12, 2012 4:22 pm
    You strive mightily, without success, to take the heat off of our corrupt sheriff by trying to change the subject. I understand that's what you get paid for. Our tax dollars, no doubt.
  • Abuse
    Minuteman wrote...
    what I said
    May 12, 2012 6:43 pm
    Correct and you know it.. Your a fan of Rose fraudcox. She did In fact give contracts to Hispanic companies that in turn gave her low dollar loans.
    Protect our borders and our communities
  • Abuse
    Michoacan wrote...
    Arpaio takes $975,000 from your
    May 12, 2012 11:07 pm
    pockets to give To Wilcox. As a corrupt, criminal, co-conspirator who runs up unnecessary, multimillion dollar obligations for County taxpayers, Arpaio knows he has your vote locked in for Nov.
  • Abuse
    Minuteman wrote...
    Mary Rose makes sure
    May 13, 2012 8:33 am
    contracts are given to hispanic firms that share her views on illegal aliens and she uses her position to get low loans from those companies. She is a corrupt money grubbing loser.
    Protect our borders and our communities

Latest Arizona Stories

Ask About An Advertiser
Ben Franklin Water Cooler

Water Cooler

World Class Arizona

  • Avnet

    World Class People. World Class Company. Here's information on a Fortune 500 company from Arizona.

Voice For A Better Arizona

Most Popular

The Lasso Posts