The Latest: Arpaio's bid for leniency met with skepticism

PHOENIX (AP) -- The Latest on a court hearing over whether a judge should recommend a criminal contempt-of-court case against Sheriff Joe Arpaio for ignoring court orders (all times local):

3:30 p.m.

An attorney trying to fend off criminal contempt-of-court charges against metropolitan Phoenix's longtime sheriff faced a skeptical judge Friday who said the lawman lied in a racial profiling case.

U.S. District Judge Murray Snow is mulling whether to recommend that Arpaio and his second-in-command be charged with criminal contempt for intentionally ignoring an order to stop their immigration patrols.

The sheriff and Jerry Sheridan have already been found in civil contempt and could face fines and jail time if convicted of criminal contempt.

Arpaio lawyer Mel McDonald argued for leniency and cited the sheriff's 50-year career in law enforcement.

Snow interrupted to say he has run out of tolerance for the sheriff's conduct.

12 a.m.

A lawyer for the longtime sheriff of the Phoenix metropolitan area will urge a judge Friday to recommend against a criminal contempt-of-court case for the lawman for ignoring court orders in a racial profiling case.

Sheriff Joe Arpaio and his second-in-command Jerry Sheridan were found in civil contempt two months ago for intentionally ignoring an order to stop their immigration patrols.

They now face the possibility of a criminal contempt case that could expose them to fines and jail time.

The two were found to have made intentional misstatements of facts during their contempt hearings.

Arpaio's attorney Mel McDonald says a recommendation for a criminal contempt case would unfairly tarnish Arpaio's legacy as a public servant.

Sheridan's lawyer blamed another sheriff's manager for prolonging the patrols and disputed that his client had been untruthful.