MCAO says this is why sex crimes cases aren’t being prosecuted
“When they say 'we need more evidence' you should take that seriously,” Mitchell said of prosecutors investigating child sex crimes cases. MARICOPA COUNTY, Ariz. — Valley residents are confused as to why multiple child sex crime cases have been dismissed or returned to police for further investigation, with three high-profile cases reported by 12News in […]
AZ Police Association, MCAO react to DOJ report on Phoenix PD
PHOENIX — The Arizona State Police Association and Maricopa County Attorney Rachel Mitchell discussed the Department of Justice's recently released report on the Phoenix Police Department. Watch the full press conference in the video player below. Arizona Police Association, Maricopa County Attorney Respond to Department of Justice Report on Phoenix Police Department In 2021, the […]
MCAO declines charges against Avondale officer who shot teen
Attorney Rachel Mitchell has declined to file charges against the police officer involved in the February 2023 fatal shooting of a 17-year-old shoplifting suspect. AVONDALE, Ariz. — Maricopa County Attorney Rachel Mitchell has declined to file charges against the Avondale police officer involved in the 2023 shooting death of 17-year-old Amarion Hope. On February 21, […]
MCAO news conference on recent investigations
Phoenix (3TV/CBS 5) — Maricopa County Attorney Rachel Mitchell hosted a regularly scheduled press conference Wednesday afternoon to discuss the murder of the Queen Creek teen Preston Road and several others in the East Valley. It provided updates on recent investigations, including teen violence cases. MCAO is still examining evidence in the Preston Road murder […]
Judge dismisses fired prosecutor’s lawsuit against MCAO
PHOENIX — A Maricopa County Superior Court judge has dismissed a lawsuit filed by fired prosecutor April Sponsel against her former boss. In the five-page decision below, Judge Daniel Viola ruled that Sponsel's defamation and false light claims fail at a fundamental level and should be dismissed with prejudice. wrote. Her attorney, Tom Moring, issued […]
Preston Lord case files being investigated by MCAO
 PHOENIX — Maricopa County's review of charges stemming from the Preston Lord murder is expected to take some time because of the amount of material that needs to be reviewed, attorney Rachel Mitchell said Friday. The Queen Creek Police Department filed MCAO charges against seven suspects on Dec. 28, nearly two months after 16-year-old […]
MCAO dropping lawsuit over death penalty issue in Arizona
PHOENIX — Maricopa County’s top prosecutor has agreed to drop the lawsuit against state officials after receiving reassurance that the state of Arizona is ready to continue executing inmates. Governor Katie Hobbs announced earlier this year that the state would suspend executions until the administration could implement a review of Arizona’s death penalty procedures. Maricopa […]
MCAO reviewing murder suspect’s prior plea deal after Heike death
PHOENIX — Two weeks after the arrest of the man accused of murdering Lauren Heike in North Phoenix, the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office announced it was reviewing the suspect’s previous plea bargain. Zion Teasley, 22, was on probation for murder charges stemming from a string of armed robberies he committed in 2020. He got a […]
