Arizona sheriff's criminal contempt trial moved to April 25
PHOENIX (AP) -- The NCAA men's Final Four basketball tournament scheduled for early April in the Phoenix area has pushed back Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio's trial on a criminal contempt-of-court charge.
The trial now has been moved from April 4 to April 25.
Court documents Monday show U.S. Department of Justice lawyers filed a motion for a three-week continuance "based on the scarcity of hotel accommodations for witnesses, attorneys and staff and additional logistical challenges associated with the tournament."
The contempt-of-court charge stems from Arpaio's decision to prolong his signature immigration patrols for 17 months after the judge in the racial profiling case had ordered them stopped.
Arpaio faces up to six months in jail if convicted.
The six-term sheriff was defeated last month by retired Phoenix police Sgt. Paul Penzone.