TUCSON – Congressman Raúl M. Grijalva (D-AZ) released the following statement after former Maricopa County Sheriff, Joe Arpaio was found guilty of criminal contempt after ignoring a judge’s order to stop detaining people on the mere suspicion of them being undocumented immigrants. Mr. Arpaio will now await sentencing scheduled for October 5th, and may face up to six months in prison.

“For more than 24 years, Joe Arpaio has sowed fear in our communities and tarnished the public’s confidence in our law enforcement,” Rep. Grijalva said. “Today’s ruling confirms what many of us have known all along; Mr. Arpaio’s actions as Sheriff were well beyond his jurisdiction and he knowingly abused his authority for years.

“Finally, the long, bitter and hurtful chapter of his rule in Arizona ends, yet the effects of his actions will linger for years to come. As a community, we can finally begin to turn the page on this dark chapter in our State’s history, knowing that justice has been served against America’s ‘toughest sheriff.’”