Maricopa County Attorney's Office fires prosecutor involved in charging protesters

April Sponsel, a prosecutor involved in charging 2020 protesters with gang charges, will appeal a June 28 decision by the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office to officially fire her, Sponsel's attorney said.

Sponsel was part of the County Attorney's Office First Responders Bureau that wrongfully charged 15 protesters as gang members in 2020.

The County Attorney’s Office created the First Responders Bureau to prosecute cases that involved assaults on police and other first responders. 

After public outcry over the gang charges mounted, the County Attorney’s Office started an investigation that led to Sponsel being put on administrative leave in March and eventually fired. 

The office first moved toward firing Sponsel in a “Notice of Dismissal” dated June 28, where Chief Deputy Paul W. Ahler reinforced some of the points he made in a “pre-termination” letter sent to Sponsel on June 6.

“You wrongfully indicted an innocent person because you presented inaccurate evidence to a grand jury, you failed to review available evidence, and when you were made aware that you may have an innocent person under indictment you did little to ensure that your prosecution was just,” Ahler wrote in the notice.

In August 2021, Sponsel filed a $10 million claim against her employer for defamation and damages.

Her suit claimed that then-Maricopa County Attorney Allister Adel was aware of her actions and used her as a scapegoat to protect her political career once public opinion toward the charges turned sour.

Since Adel’s resignation, Rachel Mitchell, who holds the office until voters choose a new county attorney in a special election, continued the termination process of Sponsel. 

Tom Moring, attorney and partner at Jaburg and Wilk, the law firm representing Sponsel, claimed Mitchell is continuing a policy to “pin some unfortunate decisions by the agency on one particular person.”

Mitchell joined four other division chiefs in February who wrote a letter asking for Adel's resignation after numerous complaints of how she managed the office.

“For (Mitchell) to adopt those same policies and continue the same vendetta because April Sponsel, is at least disappointing, although perhaps not surprising,” Moring said.

For subscribers: Lawsuit says Phoenix police chief claimed she wasn't told of gang charges

Counter to what Ahler claimed in his report, the suit claims Sponsel ran her cases with the approval of her supervisors and that she met or exceeded MCAO’s standards.

In a May 2020 employee evaluation, Sherry Leckrone, former chief of the First Responder’s Bureau, wrote, “April is the gold standard in how our bureau’s aims to service our officer/first responder victims. She has developed an amazing network of contacts and a stellar reputation with law enforcement. This is earned respect that stems from April’s constant professionalism.”

Leckrone resigned during the investigation into the bureau.

“This idea that she's suddenly become in their eyes incompetent is belied by decades of accolades and awards,” Moring said.

In response to the notice of dismissal, Sponsel’s lawyers plan to appeal to a merit board about Ahler’s report. If successful, Sponsel's termination would be reviewed.

“We'd like somebody with a fresh take on it, who's not beholden to the office or the office holder, to review the facts," Moring said. "Not just the facts that Mr. Ahler likes, but all of them and review Ms. Sponsel's record, review her career, review, the numerous accolades and promotions that she's received, and ask that board to make an assessment.”

What was in the June 28 notice

In the notice, Ahler claimed that Sponsel violated the Maricopa County Employee Merit System Resolutions sections on incompetency, inefficiency and neglect of duty. The merit system works as a set of guidelines for all employees in the Maricopa County classified service.

While Sponsel was put on leave and her cases were passed to other prosecutors, the office found a “disturbing pattern that [could] not be ignored," Ahler explained in the notice.

He cites the prosecution of the 15 protesters as gang members and four other cases to paint a picture of Sponsel as incompetent and remorseless.

On background: Maricopa County dismisses all remaining charges against protesters

In all cases, Ahler accuses Sponsel of overcharging defendants, the notice says.

A man who dropped a gun in front of police was charged with pointing it at officers.

Another man was charged with assault with a deadly instrument against an officer when he shoved fencing at an officer's leg.

In the third case, an officer's hand was slightly punctured during a tussle with a suspect. The suspect was charged with a Class 4 felony with mandatory sentencing of 10 and a half years. 

Finally, the report explains that a man was charged with a Class 5 felony after swinging his arm at an officer who pushed him back. 

Reach crime reporter Miguel Torres at Miguel.Torres@arizonarepublic.com or on Twitter @MTorresTweet.