State prosecutors today moved to drop criminal charges against Mario de la Fuente Manriquez, former CEO of his father’s Mexican media empire.The motion to dismiss charges of money laundering, assisting a criminal syndicate, conspiracy and fraud is a major win for Manriquez, who’s fought the allegations since his arrest earlier…
In the 24-hour news cycle, it can be difficult to keep up. We have the solution. Check back on Valley Fever every evening for highlights from each of New Times’ blogs. Today’s entries:…
A “reckless, four-year campaign of corruption and power abuse.” That’s how retired Judge Charles E. Jones categorized the evidence against ex-County Attorney Andrew Thomas and his one-time hatchet-woman, former Deputy County Attorney Lisa Aubuchon, in probable-cause statements filed today that could lead to disbarment for both lawyers. Jones also slammed the pair’s…
For the next few months, Arizona lawyers can assist the needs of marijuana businesses without any repercussions from the State Bar. In a recent news release, the Bar noted that it hasn’t taken any official stance on legal work related to Proposition 203, despite public comments by its ethics attorney about…
A Gilbert man was arrested Friday after police say he not only beat up his 12-year-old step son, but he forced his own 9-year-old son to join in on the beating.According to court documents obtained by New Times, the 9-year-old son of 42-year-old Dhafer Abdulkadhim Al-Terboshi came home from school…
Former Florida Governor Jeb Bush, brother of former President George W. Bush and a possible GOP presidential candidate himself, doesn’t like Arizona’s controversial new immigration law because, he says, his children might look suspicious if seen walking on the streets of Phoenix.Bush is a staunch conservative — speaking out against…
Maybe tailing the investigator for the Arizona State Supreme Court was a bad idea. A probable-cause panelist for the state high court, spurred by a report from investigator John Gleason, has ordered disciplinary procedures to begin against former Maricopa County Attorney Andrew Thomas and his former deputy, Lisa Aubuchon. In a 76-page report presented…
A Mesa man’s been charged with murder in the beating death of his girlfriend’s 4-year-old son.According to the Mesa Police Department, 23-year-old Jorge Busso was watching the boy Friday afternoon while the mother was at work.By 4 p.m. that same afternoon, the kid was being airlifted from Banner Baywood hospital…
The Arizona Diamondbacks are getting some help where they desperately need it — and it’s costing third baseman Mark Reynolds his job.According to Arizona Republic sports reporter Nick Piecoro, the D-Backs have agreed to trade Reynolds to the Baltimore Orioles for two young relief pitchers, David Hernandez and Kam Mickolio…
A date has been set for a pretrial conference in the case of a Phoenix police officer accused of gunning down an unarmed domestic violence suspect — and his dog — earlier this year.The conference for Officer Richard Chrisman, 36, has been scheduled for January 14.Chrisman was indicted for second-degree…
Tired of watching the Arizona Cardinals embarrass themselves, Valley sports fans? There’s an alternative: the Phoenix Coyotes.After a sluggish start, yesterday’s 3-0 win over the Anaheim Ducks helped the Coyotes remain in fourth place in the Western Conference. You can thank Coyotes goaltender Ilya Bryzgalov.Bryzgalov was flawless. His 39 saves…
Following yesterday’s 19-6 loss to the St. Louis Rams, every game for the remainder of the Arizona Cardinals’ dismal season should be seen as nothing more than practice for next year.In other words, bye-bye Derek Anderson…
In the 24-hour news cycle, it can be difficult to keep up. We have the solution. Check back on Valley Fever every evening for highlights from each of New Times’ blogs. Today’s entries:…
With just five catches in Sunday’s upcoming loss to the St. Louis Rams, Arizona Cardinals receiver Larry Fitzgerald could surpass Anquan Boldin to become the franchise’s all-time leader in receptions.Boldin, now with the Baltimore Ravens, leads Cardinals’ receivers all-time with 586 career grabs while on the team. Fitzgerald, with 582,…
At a sentencing hearing this morning, a federal judge in Phoenix told a convicted serial bank robber that he “is a poster child of why Congress enacted” the Three Strikes law. Then he sentenced him to life in prison plus seven years…
The Phoenix Police Department has identified two individuals arrested after cops busted up a Phoenix drop house where authorities found nine children being held captive.Jaime Cruz-Gutierrez, 44, and Olga Marinos Fuentes, 41, were seen leaving the house just before it was raided by police last night. They were taken into…
September 22, was apparently “bring a kid to work day” for a Mesa woman, which is never a good idea considering her job is allegedly selling crystal meth.Lori Hammar, 38, was arrested on Tuesday after she brought a 5-year-old child with her as she allegedly sold crystal meth to an…
It turns out airport security checkpoints aren’t the only places Tammy Banovac likes to strip down — it’s now come out that she posed for Playboy in the 1990s.Probably could’ve called that one.Banovac, 52, as you may recall, stripped down to her skivvies before going through a TSA security checkpoint…
Three days into her pro-DREAM Act fast outside the Phoenix office of Republican U.S. Senator John McCain, 23-year-old Dulce Juarez has a message for the ex-maverick.”You supported the DREAM Act once,” said Juarez when asked what she would tell the senator if she could. “Open your heart and support it…
Phoenix police have arrested three people — and rescued 11 children — after raiding a drop house last night.Cops were tipped off about the house by a woman from El Salvador who reported to the FBI that her three daughters had been kidnapped and were being held in Phoenix.Turns out,…
A detention officer in one of Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio’s jails has resigned after being charged with assault for beating up two jail inmates.Officer Kevin Gerster, the Sheriff’s Office confirms to New Times, has resigned after being charged with assault earlier this week.Gerster, as you may recall, starred in…
Don’t look now, but the Phoenix Suns are on a roll. Okay, it’s might only be a two-game win streak (which includes last night’s 107-101 victory over the Golden State Warriors at Oracle Arena), but it’s still something to get enthused about.Thursday’s evening’s win brought the team back up to…
