The Department of Justice will charge Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio with criminal contempt after continuing his immigration patrols.
Though Arpaio, who bills himself as “America’s toughest sheriff,” has not been officially charged, District Judge Susan Bolton asked the federal government to write an order to show cause by Wednesday for her to sign.
The order will be the charging document showing Arpaio violated a federal court’s orders in a racial-profiling case.
The charge stems from a December 2011 federal court order that said Arpaio could not continue his immigration patrols due to charges of racial profiling by Latinos. He defied federal judge Murray Snow, but said his disobedience wasn’t intentional.
The sheriff is seeking a seventh term in office. If convicted of felony criminal content, he would be forced from office. However, Arpaio could remain sheriff with a misdemeanor conviction.
A tentative date is set for Dec. 6, and Arpaio’s attorney has asked for a jury trial.
