AZ Attorney General Kris Mayes Prosecutres Criminals at Home and Injustices from Trump

Her office has:

• Indicted Austin Cole Smith on 14 counts related to “fraudulent nominating petition signatures and deceiving the Secretary of States Office.”
• Announced the sentencing of a sex offender, Robert Gilbert Berghofer, residing in La Paz County, to 17 years in prison “for three counts related to the possession of Child Sexual Abuse Material.”
• Announced the sentencing of Baltazar Quintero-Bueno in Pima County for overseeing a fentanyl drug operation.
• Warned about the proliferation of text scammers impersonating government employees.
• Joined 21 other Attorney Generals in condemning Donald Trump’s deployment of the National Guard and Marines in Los Angeles.
• Celebrated the court injunction against Mr. Trump’s attempts to suppress voting rights.
• With 18 other Attorney Generals, she filed a brief to protect Job Corps from Trump/DOGE budget cuts.
• Urged people who will protest tomorrow (June 14, 2025) in the “No Kings” events to do so peacefully, warning that violent offenders would be prosecuted.

On the two sentences for the sexual offender and the drug trafficker, Ms. Mayes wrote:

►“My office will continue to partner with law enforcement across Arizona to protect children and ensure that those who exploit them face serious consequences. There is no higher priority than safeguarding the most vulnerable among us. This sentence sends a clear message that we will not tolerate crimes against children, and we will do everything in our power to identify predators, bring them to justice, and prevent future harm.”

►“My office will continue to work tirelessly to dismantle drug trafficking organizations that ship fentanyl to our communities. Those engaged in illicit drug trafficking should be on notice that my office, along with our law enforcement partners, will find you and bring you to justice.”

On the text scammers, she relayed:

“As a reminder, government agencies will never call, email, text, or message you out of the blue to ask for money or personal information. If you get a text from the ‘Arizona Ministry of Communications, ’ ignore and delete it. And you can always report text scams to my office or to the FTC.”

On Mr. Trump’s illegal deployment of the National Guard and Marines into Los Angeles, Attorney General Mayes conveyed:

“The president’s decision to federalize and deploy California’s National Guard without the consent of California state leaders is unlawful, unconstitutional, and undemocratic. The Trump administration should be working with local leaders to keep our communities safe, not mobilizing the military against the American people.”

On securing the court injunction against Mr. Trump’s attacks on voting rights, she offered:

“President Trump’s executive order federalizing the administration of elections and overriding states’ rights was an unconstitutional overreach, and today a court agreed. States—not the federal government—run elections. We will continue to fight any attempt to interfere with state election authority.”

On protecting Job Corp, Ms. Mayes stated:

“Job Corps offers critical career training and housing to young Arizonans from low-income backgrounds. For more than sixty years, it has helped young people from all corners of our state gain the skills they need to succeed and thrive in the workforce. It is unconscionable and unlawful for the Trump administration to terminate such a vital program.”

Earlier in the year, the Attorney General helped secure protections for Americorp.

On the June 14 protests, Attorney General Mayes wrote:

“Arizonans have a constitutional right to make their voices heard through peaceful protest, and I will always defend that right. But let me be clear: there is no place for violence, destruction of property, or threats to public safety in our communities.

Public safety can and must be maintained lawfully, with respect for the civil liberties enshrined in our Constitution. I have full confidence that Arizona’s state and local law enforcement agencies are prepared to ensure tomorrow’s demonstrations remain safe – and that every Arizonan’s right to peacefully assemble is protected.

Individuals who break the law, incite violence, or damage public or private property will be held accountable under Arizona law. I urge all Arizonans participating in tomorrow’s events to exercise their rights peacefully.”

“Arizonans have a right to peaceful assembly and protest, and I am fully committed to defending that right. However, that right does not extend to damaging property, committing violence, or rioting. Violence of any kind will not be tolerated. The State of Arizona is actively coordinating with local law enforcement and will be prepared to deploy resources as needed to ensure our communities remain safe, orderly and free from violence. I strongly urge protestors to remain peaceful and calm as they exercise their First Amendment right to make their voices heard. I’m thankful for the brave men and women at the Department of Public Safety who are working tirelessly to keep our communities safe and will be in close contact with the Department’s leadership throughout the weekend to ensure we are taking appropriate action to maintain peace in our state.”