Deputy Sheriff Steals Defendants Papers

A Maricopa County Sheriff's Deputy named Adam Stoddard, was caught on video stealing documents from a public defendant during a court Hearing. The deputy claims he wasn't stealing the paper, but was only searching it for contraband. He declared in contempt of court, and the judge has ordered him to apologize with the following conditions:

1) On or before November 30th, 2009, at a time convenient for Ms. Cuccia, a news conference to take place in the plaza on the north side of the central court building where he is to give Ms. Cuccia a sincere verbal and written apology for invading her defense file and for the damage that his conduct may have caused to her professional reputation.

2) If at the news conference, Ms. Cuccia does not state that the apology is sufficient, Stoddard will report to the jail on December 1, 2009 and be detained until further order upon a finding that he has complied with the purge clause.

Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio responded to the ruling early Wednesday, saying Superior Court judges do not order his staff to hold press conferences.

This is the video taken by a Tom
MCSO officer who took lawyer's paperwork might go to jail