The Pinal County Attorney’s Office (PCAO) declined to prosecute former Maricopa County prosecutor April Sponsel, whose license was suspended by the State Bar of Arizona for bringing charges against Antifa. PCAO also rejected charges against several Phoenix Police officers involved in quelling a riot by the gang in 2020. The Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office (MCSO) had recommended to PCAO to charge the six after the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office (MCAO) suggested there was wrongdoing.
Initially, MCAO fully supported prosecuting Antifa, but after ABC-15 issued a series of videos critical of how law enforcement handled the incident, the office reversed its position. In February 2021, then-Maricopa County Attorney Allister Adel made a decision to dismiss all the charges against Antifa. Maricopa County Attorney Rachel Mitchell testified against Sponsel at her bar disciplinary trial.
Retired FBI Special Agent James E. Egelston of Baseline Investigations prepared the 161-page report for PCAO on behalf of MCSO. At the time, MCSO was led by Democrat Paul Penzone. Penzone resigned suddenly about a year ago.
Pinal County Attorney Kent Volkmer said in a response to the investigation, dated September 26, “Based on the information submitted in your Investigative Report dated June 10, 2023, as well as the evidence you gathered since that date and shared with this office, it is the opinion of this Board that none of the individuals listed above committed any acts that warrant criminal prosecution.”
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