Tough-on-crime sheriff found guilty of contempt

Fiery former Phoenix-area Sheriff Joe Arpaio, who made national headlines for his aggressive enforcement of laws against illegal immigrants, was found guilty of misdemeanor contempt of court Monday. A judge ruled Arpaio knowingly violated a 2011 court order to stop traffic patrols targeting illegal immigrants because they racially profiled Latinos. Arpaio kept up the patrols and openly discussed his defiance in public. “Not only did defendant abdicate responsibility, he announced to the world and to his subordinates that he was going to continue business as usual no matter who said otherwise,” U.S. District Judge Susan Bolton wrote. Arpaio’s attorneys said they plan to appeal the verdict.