#WeekInJustice: Week 240
The work done by an array of lawyers at the Pima County Attorney’s Office over the past two weeks has won important court cases at all levels of the justice system in Arizona, assisted in a case of national interest, stood up against federal overreach and revisited our collective oath of office on the 250th year of our nation. And we still found time to share the joy of reading with local school children.
SVU Trial Prosecutor Tai Summers Won a Landmark Arizona Supreme Court Case
In a case that began in 2024, Deputy County Attorney Tai Summers won an argument before the Arizona Supreme Court that upheld the intent of enhanced sentencing for those who solicit and exploit children, even when the “child” is an undercover police officer or any adult posing as a minor. After both the trial court and the Arizona Court of Appeals ruled that the intended victim must be an actual child for the enhanced sentencing statute to apply, the state’s highest court opined in January that the intent of a person seeking to sexually exploit children makes the greater punishment appropriate, thereby preserving the enhanced sentences for hundreds of previous cases across the state and all future cases.
PCAO Dynamic Duo Wins at the Arizona Court of Appeals
Chief Appellate Attorney Bill Brammer and Deputy County Attorney James Rappaport won at the Arizona Court of Appeals in a vehicular homicide case in which the trial court opined that “a very clear and very pronounced appearance of impropriety” precluded our office from prosecuting the case.
At trial, the defense claimed that the victim, a Democrat who had just lost a campaign for a state Senate seat and had been a financial supporter of County Attorney Laura Conover’s campaign for re-election, could not get a fair trial because of their shared party affiliation and financial contributions.
The appeals panel disagreed, stating that the office cannot be disqualified from prosecuting cases based on shared political party affiliation or campaign contributions because it would “seriously disrupt the functioning and efficiency of PCAO and other county attorney offices.
PCAO Seeks Justice for the Pima County Sheriff’s Office
The case is in progress with Deputy County Attorneys Rachel Stiles and Mario Gonzalez prosecuting.
In a case involving the shooting of two Pima County Sheriff’s deputies during a domestic violence call, we offered a plea agreement for the defendant to spend 37 ½ years in prison. While the sentence could have been longer, a trial could also mean a more lenient sentence. We believe the agreement provides serious consequences for a serious crime.
88-Crime In Action
In our 88-CRIME program, new coordinator James Allerton, Raquel Leon and Chief Detective Fabian Pacheco have professionally managed more than 1,000 new and unique tips regarding the case of Nancy Guthrie, who has been missing since Feb. 1.
Arizona Rule of Law Day 2026
All prosecutors and civil attorneys at “The People’s Office” joined Superior Court personnel to mark the 250th anniversary of our nation’s birth and to reaffirm their commitment to justice by reciting the Oath of Admission.
PCAO Takes Fight for Justice to D.C.
Meanwhile, Laura spent 48 hours in the nation’s capital with fellow prosecutors aligned in opposition to overreach of federal law enforcement as part of the deportation “sweeps” being conducted by the Trump Administration in cities that didn’t vote for him.
The group was formed after the ICE and Customs and Border Protection presence in Minneapolis led to the shooting deaths of two local resident who stood in opposition to the actions of federal agents.
The goal of the effort, dubbed “Fight Against Federal Overreach,” is to ensure that constitutional limits on federal power are enforced through lawful institutions that protect civil rights on the local level.
Love of Reading Month Begins
With “Love of Reading Week” in the Tucson Unified School District being one of our favorite community events of the year, folks at the Pima County Attorney’s Office have visited numerous schools to share the joy of reading.
Our Director of Specialty Courts Nahrin Jabro treated 4th grade students at Davis Bilingual Magnet School to passages from some of her childhood favorite literature books. While County Attorney Laura Conover, Chief Detective Fabian Pacheco and one of our newest teammates, 88-CRIME Coordinator James Allerton all visited Pueblo Gardens Elementary School, where they read some of the school’s top books to students.
Until next time. 🫡
PCAO Communications Team
