SAFFORD — At its most recent meeting, the Graham County Board of Supervisors unanimously approved agreements with five local attorneys to provide indigent defense for misdemeanor cases in Justice Court.
All five attorneys — Daisy Flores, Raymond Geiser, Rebecca Johnson, Josi Lopez and Dennis McCarthy — will receive the same compensation: $800 for DUI cases and $450 for other misdemeanor cases, which is the same compensation as the previous year.
Indigent defense is only provided to defendants who financially qualify and are charged with a misdemeanor that could result in jail time upon conviction.
“The majority of appoints are misdemeanor contracts on DUI cases,” said Graham County Justice of the Peace Stephanie Newton. “Very rarely do we appoint for other misdemeanor cases.”
The board also approved the contract with Ricardo Guerena to preside over initial appearances in court over the weekend.
Under Arizona law, a person charged with a crime must have his or her first appearance in court occur within 24 hours of being charged, regardless of the day of the week or holidays.
The Graham County Court system has the judges — Superior Court Judge Michael Peterson, Judge Pro Tempore Travis Ragland, Graham County Consolidated Municipal Court Judge Merri Aden and Justice of the Peace Newton — and Guerena on a rotation for weekend initial appearances.
Guerena will be compensated at a rate of $35 per hour, the same rate as last year.
