• Arpaio back in action

    Arpaio back in action

  • Ed Montini weighs in on Arpaio's loss

    Ed Montini weighs in on Arpaio’s loss

  • Arpaio officially charged with criminal contempt

    Arpaio officially charged with criminal contempt

  • Inside the Sheriff Joe Arpaio protest

    Inside the Sheriff Joe Arpaio protest

  • Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio's attorney speaks

    Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio’s attorney speaks

  • Protesters demonstrate against Arpaio outside federal court

    Protesters demonstrate against Arpaio outside federal court

  • MCSO's legal bills keep growing in racial-profiling case

    MCSO’s legal bills keep growing in racial-profiling case

  • MCSO considered closing Tent City

    MCSO considered closing Tent City

  • Arpaio stripped of internal affairs oversight

    Arpaio stripped of internal affairs oversight

  • Arpaio in contempt of federal court

    Arpaio in contempt of federal court

Attorneys for former Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio are asking a judge to dismiss the criminal contempt charge he faces in a trial that’s looming in just two weeks.

The defense team, now joined by Dennis and Jack Wilenchik, argued the case is barred by a one-year statute of limitations, according to a court filing.

If that argument is rejected by a judge, they are asking for a 60-day continuance of the trial, the document says.

Sheriff Joe Arpaio legal troubles

It is the defense’s third attempt at delaying the trial, this time citing last week’s withdrawal of Arpaio’s former lead defense attorney, Mel McDonald.

The motion was filed in federal court on Monday. Defense attorneys asked for the court to hear their arguments at a scheduled hearing on Wednesday, when parties will discuss another defense move to stay the proceedings until after a related appeal has been put to rest.

Defense attorneys have previously — and unsuccessfully — asked U.S. District Judge Susan Bolton to stall the case based on prep work and the timing of defense attorney Mark Goldman’s son’s Bar Mitzvah.

Justice Department prosecutors previously asked for a continuance, based on the initial trial date coinciding with the NCAA Final Four in Phoenix. That motion was granted, and the trial was rescheduled to begin April 25.

Arpaio could face up to six months in jail for failing to follow a federal judge’s order barring the agency from enforcing federal law. The contempt proceedings stem from a long-running racial-profiling case.

READ MORE:

Arpaio attorney wants out of criminal trial

Sheriff Penzone closing Arpaio’s Tent City Jail

Conspiracy theory linking Trump, Arpaio returns

Arpaio case costs Maricopa County another $400K

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