Maricopa County Attorney's Office
The prosecutor for metro Phoenix: charging decisions, police-shooting reviews, plea and sentencing practices, the 2020 protest gang-charge scandal, and the county attorney's record on transparency.
History & Context
Key events, each tied to a published source. Entries we could not verify are marked. Spot an error? Tell us.
- September 21, 2020Use of force
No charges in DPS killing of Dion Johnson
County Attorney Allister Adel declined to charge the DPS trooper who shot and killed Dion Johnson on May 25, 2020.
Sources: MCAO remarks · AP News
- October 17, 2020Prosecutions
Protest 'gang' prosecution
MCAO prosecutor April Sponsel brought criminal street gang charges against 18 people arrested at a downtown Phoenix protest.
Sources: ABC15 – Politically Charged
- June 3, 2021Prosecutions
Judge finds 'egregious misconduct' in protest case
A Superior Court judge dismissed the gang charges with prejudice and found the lead prosecutor and a Phoenix police sergeant colluded to present false information to the grand jury.
Sources: ABC15 · ABC15 – MCAO to dismiss all charges
- March 21, 2022Leadership
County Attorney Allister Adel resigns
Adel announced her resignation, effective March 25, 2022.
Sources: AZFamily
- April 20, 2022Leadership
Rachel Mitchell appointed County Attorney
The Board of Supervisors unanimously appointed veteran prosecutor Rachel Mitchell to serve until a special election.
Sources: MCAO announcement · 12News