Andrew Thomas Blasts Opponent for Record Amount of Contributions From Criminal Defense Lawyers

September 9 2008 | Andrew Thomas

[davejohnson]

Thomas Says Dangerous Alliance is More Evidence that ACLU Attorney Nelson is Soft on Crime; Demands Full Accounting of Criminal Defense Contributions, Influence

So who are the lawyers of murderers, polluters, rapists, molesters and white collar criminals supporting for Maricopa County Attorney? Tim Nelson.

A review of the ACLU lawyer's campaign contribution reports show a record amount of support -- and a shocking alliance with - lawyers representing Valley criminals (See below).

"The Democrat primary is over. And it's time to shed some light on who Tim Nelson really is. He's soft on crime. I am not. He's supportive of policies and people that will endanger our citizens and make neighborhoods unsafe. These contributors want to see me replaced with a County Attorney who will be friendlier to their cause. Mr. Nelson's dangerous alliance with lawyers representing Valley criminals should be a concern to every neighborhood and person in Maricopa County," Thomas said.

During the Democrat primary Nelson himself committed to rolling back Thomas' policies to reduce plea bargains. He acknowledged that lawyers for Valley criminals were giving large sums to his campaign because they disagree with Thomas' hard- line policies against plea bargaining, saying they are not "just." Thomas severely curtailed plea bargains and what he called sweetheart deals for crimes after taking office in 2005. For example, Thomas required that violent offenders plead guilty to the highest charge and accept the tough prison sentences that come with that or go to trial and risk getting sentenced longer. In the real world, this means a rapist who breaks into a house no longer can plead guilty just to burglary, but must plead guilty to sexual assault and get a severe prison sentence.

There may be other criminal defense attorney contributors not identified by Thomas. Furthermore, numerous criminal defense attorneys have hosted fundraisers or otherwise raised money for Nelson.

It is illegal for Arizona state legislators to accept campaign contributions from lobbyists during the legislative session. To accept so much money from lobbyists for criminals with active interests before the County Attorney's Office is even more alarming, Thomas said.

"We have not been able to find any candidate for County Attorney who has ever raised so much money from so many criminal defense lawyers. If someone can prove otherwise I will be happy to change our description of Nelson's support from record-setting to merely obscene. In the meantime, Nelson must release a full accounting of all that criminal defense attorneys have raised for his campaign so the public can have the most complete picture of their unprecedented support," Thomas said.

Nelson is now working at the law firm of Osborn Maledon, well-known for its criminal defense work, including those with cases now before the County Attorney's Office.

"Our policies, combined with those of Sheriff Arpaio and outstanding efforts by local law enforcement have reduced Valley crime over the past four years. Mr. Nelson wants to eviscerate these efforts and return to the days of soft sentences for criminal defense attorneys and their clients," Thomas said.

Thomas said the Arizona media and public do not yet have any idea how soft and how offensive Tim Nelson's entire criminal justice record has been.

Thomas said his campaign would be releasing additional information throughout the campaign, as well as defending his own successes during his first term and articulating why his re-election will mean a continued reduction in crime.

List of criminal defense attorneys and their spouses who contributed to Nelson (NOTE: $390 is the maximum contribution allowed by law)

Dale Baich -$390 Alan Baskin-$100 Melanie Beauchamp-$390 James Belanger-$390 Michael Black-$390 Antonio Bustamante-$250 Michael Buxton-$390 Zachary Cain-$100 Colin Campbell-$390 David Cantor-$390 Harla Davison-$100 Hector Diaz-$250 Stephen Dichter-$390 Timothy Eckstein-$300 Bruce Feder-$100 Carmen Fischer-$390 Tracy Friddle-$35 Stacey Gottlieb-$390 Benjamin Green-$100 Larry Hammond-$390 Leslie Hatfield-$390 Melissa Ho-$100 Bret Huggins-$200 David Kephart-$150 Michael Kimerer-$390 Jason Lamm-$390 Jess Lorona-$390 Norma Martens-$390 Daniel Maynard-$200 Craig Mehrens-$390 Jeffrey Mehrens-$390 Alicia Morrison-$100 Alex Navidad-$100 Phil Noland-$390 Ed Novak-$390 Frederick Petti-$390 John Phebus-$390 Rebecca Potter-$40 Christopher Rapp-$390 Jon Sands -$390 John Sandweg-$390 Gary Scales-$390 Douglas Schwab-$200 Margarita Silva-$50 Lee Stein-$390 E.Sharon Storrs-$200 James Tinker-$200 Peter Wand-$200 Robert Weeks-$200 Alan Zimmerman-$100 Their spouses Joo Cantor -$390 Frances Hammond-$390 Jennifer Lorona-$390 Timothy Martens-$200 Heather Novak-$285 Total: $15,560.00

Attorneys in the above list have represented such people as Sammy "The Bull" Gravano, convicted child murderer Don Beaty, murderer-rapist Robert Comer and convicted child murderer Kevin Roscoe, among many others. This list is based on information found in the public domain including the Arizona State Bar website. This list doesn't include attorneys who handle criminal cases as only part of their practice.

For more information or to arrange interviews with Mr. Thomas please call Jason Rose or Jim Sharpe at 480.423.1414.

[gopno1]

Dale Baich was involved with Nebraska child murder John Joubert, who made a one way trip to the electric chair in 1996.

[machogirl]

DAvid Cantor - didn’t think that the judge telling him to take the “hit-n-run” suspects passport applied to him - then the alleged person ran home to saudi arabia or another middle eastern country.

he was brought up on charges and apparently squeaked out of it. too bad. another lawyer disbarred or in contempt would be one less to inflict pain on the public.

[davejohnson]

My favorite contributor is child molester and child pornographer defense attorney Jason Lamm, who was actually interviewed by the Arizona Republic today praising Tim Nelson and criticizing Thomas (http://www.azcentral.com/arizonarepublic/local/articles/2008/09/10/20080910elex-thomas0910.html). Check out his website - http://www.cyberlawaz.com/child-pornography-attorney.asp.

It brags, "Over the last several years Mr. Lamm has become recognized as the leading defense criminal defense attorney in the defense or child pornography charges and has handled dozens of cases not only in Phoenix and throughout Arizona, but all around the country."

and

Our Experience as Child Pornography Lawyers
On August 2, 2002, child pornography attorney Jason Lamm successfully argued to a Maricopa County Superior Court that Arizona’s law prohibit child pornography is unconstitutional. A judge then DISMISSED ALL 16 COUNTS of sexual exploitation of a minor against our client and then ordered that he be immediately released from jail after he had been held for 10 months awaiting trial.

In March of 2002, child pornography lawyer Jason Lamm also obtained a DISMISSAL OF 14 COUNTS of sexual exploitation of a minor on behalf of a client. Mr. Lamm has again distinguished himself as the preeminent criminal defense attorney in Arizona in this new and complex area of criminal law.

For more information, check out http://aclutimwillsayanythingtogetelected.blogspot.com