Former prosecutor April Sponsel’s two-year suspension has been upheld by the Arizona Supreme Court after she brought gang-related charges against protesters without properly reviewing evidence.
Key Takeaways
- The Arizona Supreme Court confirmed a two-year suspension for former Maricopa County prosecutor April Sponsel for ethical violations
- Sponsel “knowingly” violated her duty by filing gang-related charges against 15 protesters from a 2020 demonstration without properly reviewing evidence
- The Maricopa County Attorney’s Office ultimately dismissed over 40 felony cases related to Sponsel’s prosecutions
- Sponsel was placed on administrative leave in March 2022 and fired in June 2022 following investigations into her conduct
- The court found that Sponsel’s misconduct caused significant harm to defendants who were improperly charged
Prosecutor’s Misconduct Led to Serious Consequences
The Arizona Supreme Court has upheld a two-year suspension for former Maricopa County prosecutor April Sponsel, confirming findings that she “knowingly” violated her ethical duties when prosecuting protesters in 2020. Sponsel, who worked in the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office (MCAO), was found to have filed gang-related charges against 15 protesters without properly reviewing the available evidence. This misconduct resulted in dozens of innocent citizens facing potentially life-altering felony charges that were later determined to be baseless.
The disciplinary action stems from Sponsel’s role as lead prosecutor against individuals arrested during Phoenix protests in October 2020, following the deaths of George Floyd and Dion Johnson. Despite having access to over 100 hours of police body camera footage and 250 pages of police reports, Sponsel filed serious gang-related charges after conducting only minimal review of the evidence. The Supreme Court’s decision emphasized that Sponsel not only initiated the charges without proper evidence but also failed to reevaluate the charges as litigation progressed.
Investigation Revealed Pattern of Prosecutorial Overreach
Problems with Sponsel’s prosecutorial decisions came to light following ABC15’s “Politically Charged” investigation in February 2021. The investigation triggered a comprehensive review of cases led by Sponsel, ultimately resulting in the MCAO dismissing over 40 felony cases against protesters. The evidence showed that Sponsel had worked closely with Phoenix police to bring charges against demonstrators that could not be substantiated when subjected to proper scrutiny.
The review revealed that Sponsel had pushed forward with gang-related enhancements that dramatically increased potential penalties for protesters without establishing the legal foundation for such serious charges. These actions represented a significant departure from proper prosecutorial standards and ethics. When confronted with the allegations during her disciplinary trial, Sponsel continued to deny any wrongdoing, despite the mounting evidence against her.
HEADLINE: AZ Supreme Court releases decision upholding protest prosecutor’s suspension
Bottom line: Don’t collude with police to invent a gang to falsely charge protesters as members. https://t.co/9hcHl3kM26
— Dave Biscobing (@DaveBiscobing15) April 12, 2025
Professional Consequences and Accountability
Following the initial investigations into her conduct, Sponsel was placed on administrative leave by the MCAO on March 2, 2022, and was ultimately terminated in June of that same year. The State Bar of Arizona then filed ethical charges against Sponsel, which led to the disciplinary panel imposing a two-year suspension in late 2023. The recent Arizona Supreme Court decision represents the final confirmation of this punishment after Sponsel’s appeals were exhausted.
The court’s ruling emphasized that Sponsel’s actions caused “significant injury” to defendants who were inappropriately charged. This case highlights the critical importance of prosecutorial integrity and the serious consequences that can result when those entrusted with enforcing the law fail to uphold ethical standards. The ruling serves as a reminder that prosecutors wield considerable power in the justice system and must exercise that power responsibly, with proper review of evidence and respect for defendants’ rights.
Sources:
- AZ Supreme Court releases decision upholding protest prosecutor’s suspension
- Arizona Supreme Court upholds former Valley prosecutor’s 2-year suspension
- Arizona Supreme Court upholds former Valley prosecutor’s 2-year suspension – DNyuz
