Sheriff Joe Arpaio's second-in-command on Friday backed up Arpaio's bombshell testimony that his attorneys hired a private eye to investigate comments by the wife of the judge presiding at his contempt-of-court trial.
Chief Deputy Jerry Sheridan testified about the investigation only after his attorney asked Federal Judge Murray Snow to close the hearing because the testimony would embarrass the judge.
Snow handed down a landmark ruling in 2013 that Arpaio and the Maricopa County Sheriff's Office violated the constitutional rights of Latino drivers by racially profiling them on stops. This week's hearings put MCSO's command staff on trial for contempt of court, for ignoring Snow's orders to fix the agency.
The testimony on the investigation began with defense attorney Michele Iafrate revisiting Arpaio's testimony Thursday.
Sheridan to the sheriff had received a private Facebook message in August 2013.
Here's what followed:
Defense attorney Iafrate: What was the content?
Sheridan: I'd rather not say
Attorney: Why not?
Sheridan: I will answer that question if the court allows me to answer.
Judge Snow: Did it make allegations I was biased in this matter?
Sheridan: Yes
Judge Snow: Go ahead and answer
Sheridan: (The message said) I know Judge Snow's wife. She told me he hates you and wants to see you out of office.
Sheridan said the woman who spoke to Snow's wife was a childhood friend from Yuma. They bumped into each other with their children at an East Valley restaurant.
Sheridan said the message was investigated and found to be credible, based on interview with the woman who sent it, her children and her husband. Sheridan said Judge Snow's wife was never investigated
The investigator was hired by Arpaio's former attorney in the racial-profiling case, Tim Casey, according to Sheridan. Casey withdrew from the case six months ago.
Casey's attorney released a statement Thursday night, denying he was involved in an investigation of Judge Snow or his family. After court Friday, Snow's attorney declined to confirm whether he hired the private investigator.
The second segment of the contempt-of-court trial will begin in mid-June.
