Update on two Felony cases in Maricopa Superior Court
(Zillions more I haven't had time to get updates on but here are two older case updates)
The Studio raided in 2013:
The 15 gals indicted all took pleas (mostly felonies) and there is still one who has been indicted but has not yet been found to be arrested. In 2015, cases were separated with an intervening indictment on Wiliam.
William remains in jail on $100,000 bond. He keeps insisting the State keep giving him authorizations for new investigators, and has been through many attorneys.
The trial has been continued from 5/19/2016 to 9/12/2016 and is with Judge Stephens (same as Temple case).
Club Lace raided in 2013:
Latest pleas and remaining defendants status:
Cristina A. (there are two with the same first name) pled to felonies and sentenced to 1-year in prison.
Lola pled to felonies and sentenced to 3- years probation. In early 2016 probation revoked when in violation of Drug Court contract. On 3/28/2016 was ordered to self-surrender and with 1-day in custody with new drug court status hearing on 5/23/2016. Fined $3660 plus costs. Was in jail for 7 days on a probation violation and previously 60 days before plea deal with probation. She had a long history of missed meetings with a probation officer, failed to register new address or pay the $65/monthly probation fee.
Cristina K. pled to two felonies and sentenced to 18 months probation.
Stephen, Robert, Adam, and Cary trial now set for 5/12/2016 after many continuances and may be continued out further.
The defense has issued subpoenas for 68 people, including the undercover detectives which the two women are the same as in the Temple case who tried to be hired, many of the police officers at the raid, etc.
Additional charges (money laundering) against Adam, Cary, and Stephen from recorded phone calls to Adam, who was in prison discussing how to get money from Club Lace to Adam.
Adam then released from prison from prior crime raised on 4/1/2016 his $5000 bond for this case for money laundering and released with electronic monitoring. The state had requested $25k bond. Adam was sentenced to 10.5 years prison for a drive-by shooting in 2007 but got out on early release (85% of the time). He was also convicted of disorderly conduct in 2004.
Cary - 3/23/2016 State motion to exclude self-serving statements made to police that money from Club Lace was not from prostitution. 3/22/2016 filed a motion to depose a detective after repeated attempts to serve so now getting a court order. 3/26/2016 Cary requested to be excused from next hearing due to a work conflict. However, this turned out to be for an SRP Helicopter ride which the judge scolded him for being more important than the pending felony trial. Motion to waive appearance denied.
Original arrest of Stephen & Robert was on 11/13/2013 in a traffic stop with Robert driving after seen leaving Club Lace with a trash bag. Executed a search warrant and bag contained used condoms, lube and a daily activity log from the club.
Lots of probably cause including undercover applying for work and told to bring condoms and sex acts discussed. When she asked about legal risk was told if arrested was only a misdemeanor and would get diversion for a first offense.
On 1/6/2016, State filed requested jury instructions (7 pages) and Voir Dire (Jury questions) of 4 pages.
States Pretrial Statement:
Mandatory sentencing ranges
Adam: 1 count money laundering with a minimum of 3.5 years in prison and a maximum of 16.5 years.
Stephen: 4 felony counts (criminal enterprise, control of the criminal enterprise, maintaining house of prostitution and money laundering. Has two prior felony convictions for enhancement of time. On two counts maximum is 16.5 years each, and others 3-5 years each.
Robert: Has 3 prior felonies for enhancements. Same counts as Stephen and penalties.
Cary: 1- count money laundering and since no prior felonies could be probation eligible or up to 8.75 years in prison.
State lists 13 police officers as States witness (some the same as the Temple and Divas case), 3 of the pled co-defendants and 3 others.
Seeks the usual 12 jurors with 3 alternates. Expected trial 4 weeks. Temple trial took 3-months and jury found Tracy guilty in 2 hours of deliberation on all 22 felony counts.
State Requested Jury Voir Dire:
Personal information.
CSI effect - 4 questions related to scientific evidence, do they watch forensic crime scene television shows, disregard what see on these shows, set aside preexisting expectations and decide the case only on Arizona laws.
Prostitution: (I have shortened the longer questions somewhat.)
Do you have strong feelings on legalization, how serious of a problem is prostitution in Arizona, have you or anyone you know visited backpage or searched any adult website, you or anyone you know been required to pay "cash only" for a service, heard anything about the crime of running a criminal enterprise, and do you know anyone close to you who would look for ways to make quick and easy money?
Other:
Do any of you have any feelings about Bill Montgomery or the County Attorney's office, have any religious or philosophical beliefs which would make you hesitant to sit in judgment of a fellow human being, do you have any bumper stickers on your car, do you have any strong feelings about the police using a hidden camera or hidden voice recorders in an investigation?
A few others but those are the most interesting.