Paper Leaders Arrested For Story On Subpoenas

[eppur_se_muova]

Source: KPHO (CBS TV affiliate, Pheonix)

MESA, Ariz. -- The leaders of an alternative newspaper chain were arrested after running a story about grand jury subpoenas they received seeking reporters' notes and information on who visits their Phoenix weekly's Web site.

Michael Lacey, executive editor of Village Voice Media, and Jim Larkin, CEO of the Phoenix-based chain, were arrested at their homes Thursday, the same day their story was published in the Phoenix New Times, a free, weekly alternative paper.

Capt. Paul Chagolla, a sheriff's spokesman, said Lacey and Larkin were arrested on suspicion of violating grand jury secrecy and that the arrests came at the requests of the prosecutor.

The story, titled "Breathtaking Abuse of the Constitution," said Maricopa County authorities want every story New Times has written about Sheriff Joe Arpaio since Jan. 1, 2004, and all the notes, tapes and records of the reporters.

Read more: http://www.kpho.com/news/14376424/detail.html

[SteppingRazor]

1. Having once worked in the New Times chain, I don't have a lot of love for Lacey...

but this is just ridiculous. Government intimidation at its worst. Basically, par for the course for Sheriff Arpaio.

As for Lacey, he's probably loving every second of this.

[Viva_La_Revolution]

2. so this is a court case about publishing Arpaio's address?

Why the hell would that require info on people who read the story online?

I'm probably on that list. I've been following Arpaio's conduct for years, my interest stemming from several friends of mine who had the pleasure of residing in his tent city years ago.

[cosmik debris]

3. Here is a link to the newspaper

http://www.phoenixnewtimes.com/

There are several stories here if you dare to visit.

[habitual]

4. k&r n/t

[Ian David]

5. If only they had leaked the name of a coverty CIA opertaitve instead, they would have been fine. n/t

[pattmarty]

6. Again, the infamous Joe Arpaio.

[snappyturtle]

7. Am I missing something? I read this and am outraged!! The subpoenas

want info on who visits the website? :hide:

[havocmom]

8. evidently, Joe and company can't handle people handling the truth

Bunch of nazi wannabees running things in the Valley of the Sun.

[Trillo]

9. According to the article, not only who visits the website,

but who had 'read' certain articles. You know how dangerous 'readers' are!

[sicksicksick_N_tired]

10. Uh,...whoah!!!!

Time to file some federal lawsuits, methinks.

:wow:

[alstephenson]

11. Arpaio has a grudge against the New Times....

and he's very cozy with the county attorney, Andrew Thomas. What an abuse of power. Disgusting. Will the ACLU get involved in this?

[Richard Steele]

12. "Breathtaking Abuse of the Constitution" sums it up pretty well. recommended

[cosmicdot]

13. from the New Times article

Sheriff Arpaio hid nearly $790,000 in cold hard cash in three real estate investments that former New Times staff writer John Dougherty discovered in July 2004, in the middle of a heated primary election.

Arpaio stashed an indeterminate amount of cash in another six parcels of commercial and residential real estate.

With more than a million dollars invested, how could there not be questions?

Columnist Dougherty wondered how a public servant surviving on a $78,000 sheriff's salary and a government retirement check could afford such an investment portfolio."

http://www.phoenixnewtimes.com/2007-10-18/news/breathtaking-abuse-of-the-constitution/full

[NYC]

14. Excerpts:

...The authorities are also using the grand jury subpoenas in an attempt to research the identity, purchasing habits, and browsing proclivities of our online readership...

...More alarming still, Arpaio, Thomas, and Wilenchik subpoenaed detailed information on anyone who has looked at the New Times Web site since 2004.

Every individual who looked at any story, review, listing, classified, or retail ad over a period of years...

...In a grandiose insult to the Constitution, Arpaio, Thomas, and Wilenchik used the grand jury to subpoena the online profiles of anyone who viewed four specific articles on the sheriff.

The pertinent section of the secret grand jury subpoena reads, in part: "All internet web site information for the Phoenix New Times internet site related to the web pages...{four specific articles on the sheriff}. The information should include, but not be limited to: The Internet Protocol addresses of any and all visitors to each page of ...{four specific articles on the sheriff}..."

[NYC]

15. Update: Case Dropped.

Case Against New Times Dropped
County Attorney Removes Special Prosecutor
By Bill Jensen
Published: October 18, 2007

Subject(s): Sheriff Joe Arpaio, Grand Jury, New Times, Jim Larkin, Michael Lacey

At a press conference on Friday afternoon, Maricopa County Attorney Andrew Thomas announced that all charges against New Times, its owners, editors and writers have been dropped — and that special prosecutor Dennis Wilenchik has been dismissed.

The shocking move came a day after Phoenix New Times published a story highlighting a grand jury subpoena demanding New Times hand over an unprecedented amount of reporter notes, personal information about Web site visitors and other intrusive materials.

"We tried to make a modest stand for our readers, our reporters and our Constitution," said Michael Lacey, co-owner and executive editor of New Times/Village Voice Media. "Sometimes law enforcement prevails in their view of the constitution, sometimes the Irish prevail in theirs."

----------------------------------------------------
The date says October 18th, but the press conference was Friday. Perhaps they mean the 19th.

[eppur_se_muova]

16. Good News! Thanks! nt

[ret5hd]

17. Maybe we can hope for a "Shawshank Redemtion" moments soon:

[Vidar]

18. Applauding the reporters that broke this story.