Significant Sentences - Pinal County Attorney's Office

Eloy woman sentenced to 24 years in child abuse case

May 31, 2023/in News, Significant Sentences /by Michael Pelton

(FLORENCE, AZ) - An Eloy woman has been sentenced to more than two decades in prison in a child abuse case involving a boy who suffered severe injuries across his entire body.

On May 22nd, 2023, Pinal County Superior Court Judge Steven Fuller sentenced Claudia Genis, 32, to 24 years of flat time in the Arizona Department of Corrections, followed by two consecutive terms of lifetime probation.

Genis pled guilty to Child Abuse, a Class Two Felony and Dangerous Crime Against Children; and two counts of Child Abuse, both Class Four Felonies.

In September 2020, the Pinal County Sheriff's Office responded to Banner Ironwood Hospital reference an eight-year-old boy who had been air-lifted to them in critical condition and showed signs of significant abuse. The boy suffered from multiple injuries including liver and spleen lacerations, scars and abrasions all over his body, multiple rib fractures, internal bleeding, injuries to his chest cavity, fractured sternum, and both old and new injuries to his genitals. Deputies were told by a relative that he fell off his skateboard, however doctors did not believe that to be the case. Genis initially reported she noticed the victim had a puffy eye after playing in the backyard. Investigators obtained a search warrant for Genis' phone and located a search history that included home remedies for injuries to the chest, trouble breathing, and when CPS gets involved. Investigators also discovered a text message that appeared to show an attempt to fabricate a story for law enforcement.

As part of the investigation, the victim eventually disclosed Genis, who was his mom's live-in girlfriend, started hurting him when COVID began and he had to stay home from school. He indicated Genis was the only one who hurt him and that she did things including smash his head against a car window and strangle him. He has now recovered from his physical injuries.

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Mesa man sentenced to seven years for sexually assaulting woman in public

May 23, 2023/in News, Significant Sentences /by Michael Pelton

(FLORENCE, AZ) - A Mesa man has been sentenced to seven years in prison for sexually assaulting a pregnant woman at a Casa Grande Walmart.

On May 22nd, 2023, Pinal County Superior Court Judge Daniel Washburn sentenced Andrew Magana, 21, to seven years in the Arizona Department of Corrections.

In April, a jury found Magana guilty of Sexual Assault, a Class Two Felony.

In June, 2021, Magana assaulted a pregnant woman who was shopping at a Walmart in Casa Grande. According to court documents, Magana, who was at the store with his girlfriend and young son at the time, ventured to a different part of the store where he located the victim, who was pushing a child in her shopping cart. Magana walked up to the victim and inappropriately grabbed her. The victim was able to knock off Magana's hat and sunglasses before he ran away. The hat and glasses later provided a DNA match to the defendant. Magana was also captured on store surveillance video.

Magana was on federal probation at the time of the incident.

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San Tan Valley man sentenced to 8 years for drug, weapons offenses

May 22, 2023/in Significant Sentences /by Michael Pelton

(FLORENCE, AZ) - A San Tan Valley man has been sentenced to nearly a decade in prison for multiple drug and weapons offenses.

On April 24th, 2023, Pinal County Superior Court Judge Steven Fuller sentenced Michael Phillips, 51, to eight years in the Arizona Department of Corrections.

In January, a jury found Phillips guilty of six felony offenses, including Possession of a Narcotic Drug for Sale exceeding the threshold, a Class Two Felony; Misconduct Involving Weapons during a drug offense, a Class Four Felony; and Use of Wire or Electronic Communication in a drug related transaction, a Class Four Felony.

On July 30, 2021, at approximately 1:00 am, Pinal County Sheriff’s Office deputies conducted a traffic stop on a Dodge Durango driven by Michael Phillips. Phillips appeared nervous. After a deputy found a baggie of methamphetamine in the front seat passenger’s pocket, they conducted a search of the vehicle. During the search, the deputy discovered a camera bag on the front passenger’s side floorboard. He found a baggie containing approximately 40 grams of methamphetamine inside the camera bag, three baggies containing a total of 240 fentanyl pills, a baggie with powder fentanyl, a scale, methamphetamine pipes, and additional small empty baggies. The deputy located a firearm between the driver’s seat and the center console. He also searched a blue Nintendo bag that he found in the backseat. It contained foil with burnt residue and a baggie containing powder fentanyl. The deputy seized numerous cell phones from the vehicle. The data from these phones included numerous drug-related conversations.

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Man sentenced to nearly 50 years in prison for shooting PCSO deputy

May 19, 2023/in News, Significant Sentences /by Michael Pelton

(FLORENCE, AZ) - A man who shot a Pinal County Sheriff's Office Deputy while responding to a trespassing call has been sentenced to more than four decades in prison.

On April 28th, 2023, Pinal County Superior Court Judge Jason Holmberg sentenced Jason Forrester, 40, to 48 years in the Arizona Department of Corrections.

Forrester pled guilty to Misconduct Involving Weapons by a prohibited possessor, a Class 4 Felony, and Aggravated Assault with a Deadly Weapon on a law enforcement officer, a Class 2 Felony.

In March, 2022, the Pinal County Sheriff's Office responded to a Dudleyville home after a call alleging Forrester was trespassing on the vacant property. At the time of the incident, Forrester had a warrant out for his arrest. A responding deputy contacted Forrester and shortly after was heard on police radio stating he was involved in a shooting and had been shot and was losing consciousness. The deputy was ultimately air lifted from the scene and taken to a level 1 trauma center.

Responding law enforcement personnel located Forrester, who was also suffering from a gunshot wound. Forrester was also transported to a trauma center. After his release from the hospital, Forrester was taken to the Pinal County Adult Detention Facility. He met with a PCSO detective and provided a statement that he was at the vacant home and when the deputy arrived on scene, the deputy brought up the outstanding warrant and Forrester began to run because he knew he was in possession of a firearm. The evidence and the victim account show this was an intentional shooting. While backing away from the Deputy, Forrester said he was not going back to jail and ran deeper into the property. As he approached a gate he reached into his pocket, removed a firearm, turned to face the Deputy and fired the gun, striking him.

A witness was contacted, and while they did not see the shooting, stated they heard a single gunshot followed by several more gunshots moments later.

The PCSO deputy who was shot was ultimately released from the hospital.

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Coolidge man sentenced to more than 15 years for possessing sexually explicit images of children

May 4, 2023/in News, Significant Sentences /by Michael Pelton

(FLORENCE, AZ) - A Coolidge man has been sentenced to more than 15 years in prison for possessing sexually explicit images of children.

On May 1^st, 2023, Pinal County Superior Court Judge Steven Fuller sentenced Brian Patterson, 35, to 17 years in the Arizona Department of Corrections, followed by lifetime probation.

Patterson pled guilty to Sexual Exploitation of a Minor, a Class Two Felony and Dangerous Crime Against Children, and Sexual Exploitation of a Minor in the Second Degree, a Class Three Felony and Preparatory Dangerous Crime Against Children.

In 2022, law enforcement was contacted by Patterson’s ex-girlfriend. According to court documents, the ex-girlfriend and Patterson had broken up, but Patterson let her know the dog they owned together passed away. Afterwards, the woman received a notification that Patterson uploaded photos to a photo-sharing account via Google that the woman had access to through an old email address. The woman indicated she thought Patterson had uploaded photos of the dog, and instead she found sexually explicit images of children. The woman told Coolidge Police Patterson must not have known she still had access to the photo-sharing account. Investigators were able to view the uploaded photos and confirmed the existence of sexually explicit images of children. A search warrant was obtained for the Google account, which confirmed Patterson as the account holder and also revealed additional illicit material.

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Man sentenced to seven years in prison for theft of paintings, furniture from Casa Grande home

April 20, 2023/in News, Significant Sentences /by Michael Pelton

(FLORENCE, AZ) - A Phoenix man has been sentenced to seven years in prison for the theft of paintings from an unoccupied home.

On March 27^th, 2023, Pinal County Superior Court Judge Jason Holmberg sentenced Deorman Bonner, 48, to seven years in the Arizona Department of Corrections.

Bonner pled guilty to Theft, a Class Two Felony.

In February 2021, a woman contacted the Pinal County Sheriff’s Office reporting theft from her home in Casa Grande. She reported the home was undergoing a remodel and was unoccupied with the exception of her property. The woman became aware of the theft from the owner of a store, who advised her someone had brought in multiple paintings and other items to be appraised. According to court documents, the person who dropped off the items claimed he wanted to sell the items for $900 and he obtained them after clearing out a house of a woman who had passed away. The store owner indicated he would need to appraise the items first, and while inspecting them found contact information on several of the paintings. The store owner contacted the victim, who then became aware of the theft. Investigators were able to identify Bonner, who was on probation, and who was also identified by the store owner in a photo line-up.

The total amount of the stolen items, which included 22 paintings , furniture, china and household items, was valued at $289,150.

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Kearny man sentenced to more than two decades in prison for sexual conduct with a minor

April 19, 2023/in Significant Sentences /by Michael Pelton

(FLORENCE, AZ) - A Kearny man has been sentenced to more than two decades in prison for sexual conduct with a minor under the age of 15.

On April 17th, 2023, Pinal County Superior Court Judge Jason Holmberg sentenced Juan Quiroz, 44, to 25 years in the Arizona Department of Corrections, followed by lifetime probation.

Quiroz pled guilty to one count of Sexual Conduct with a Minor, a Class Two Felony and Dangerous Crime Against Children, and Molestation of a Child in the Second Degree, a Class Three Felony and Preparatory Dangerous Crime Against Children.

In July 2022, the Kearny Police Department responded to a home in reference to allegations that Quiroz was having sexual contact with a minor. A forensic interview took place and investigators determined Quiroz had sexual contact with the juvenile in the months prior. The victim is under the age of 15.

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San Tan Valley man sentenced to 15 years in prison for possessing sexually explicit images of children

April 13, 2023/in Significant Sentences /by Michael Pelton

(FLORENCE, AZ) - A San Tan Valley man has been sentenced to 15 years in prison for possessing sexually explicit images of children.

On April 3rd, 2023, Pinal County Superior Court Judge Jason Holmberg sentenced Bryan Tassainer, 26, to 15 years in the Arizona Department of Corrections, followed by lifetime probation.

Tassainer pled guilty to Sexual Exploitation of a Minor, a Class Two Felony and Dangerous Crime Against Children; and two counts of Sexual Exploitation of a Minor in the Second Degree, both Class Three Felonies and Preparatory Dangerous Crimes Against Children.

This case was initially investigated by the Gilbert Police Department, which received a cybertip in early 2022 from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, which indicated a Snapchat user uploaded multiple media files consisting of sexually explicit images of children. A review of the material confirmed the illicit content. A search warrant was granted related to the user's IP address, which led investigators to Tassainer. This case was transferred to the Pinal County Sheriff's Office as the defendant resides in San Tan Valley. In August, 2022, a search warrant was executed on Tassainer's home and multiple items were collected, including the defendant's cell phone.

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Mesa man sentenced to more than two decades in prison for murder of a coworker

April 4, 2023/in Significant Sentences /by Michael Pelton

(FLORENCE, AZ) - A Mesa man has been sentenced to more than two decades in prison for the murder of a coworker.

On March 6th, 2023, Pinal County Superior Court Judge Steven Fuller sentenced Adam Haywood, 29, to 22 years in the Arizona Department of Corrections.

Earlier this year, a jury found Haywood guilty of Second Degree Murder, a Class One Felony.

In July, 2020, Haywood was traveling in a vehicle with two coworkers after completing a moving job in Snowflake, Arizona. According to court documents, Haywood, who wasn't driving, got into a dispute with the other passenger in the vehicle about rolling up the window. During the altercation, which turned physical, Haywood fired multiple shots at the victim, Boukary Ouedraogo, 34, before pushing him out the passenger window. The driver, out of fear for his safety, brought Haywood back to the Phoenix office and then called police once separated from Haywood. The driver was able to provide details of the incident to investigators.

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Pennsylvania woman sentenced to nearly 50 years in case involving child sex trafficking

April 4, 2023/in News, Significant Sentences /by Michael Pelton

(FLORENCE, AZ) -A Pennsylvania woman has been sentenced to nearly 50 years in prison in a case involving child sex trafficking.

On March 29th, 2023, Pinal County Superior Court Judge Jason Holmberg sentenced Brooke Santiago, 41, to 49 years in the Arizona Department of Corrections, followed by lifetime probation.

Santiago pled guilty to Child Sex Trafficking, a Class Two Felony and Dangerous Crime Against Children; Sexual Exploitation of a Minor, a Class Two Felony and Dangerous Crime Against Children; and Sexual Exploitation of a Minor in the Second Degree, a Class Three Felony and Preparatory Dangerous Crime Against Children.

According to court documents, Santiago arranged for adult males to have sexual intercourse with a juvenile in exchange for money. The juvenile disclosed details during a forensic interview. Unable to have her own children, Santiago also hoped the juvenile would get pregnant in order to have kids. The encounters with other men occurred at a hotel in Casa Grande. Investigators were able to search Santiago's phone and found corroborating messages that showed Santiago knew of the ongoing sexual encounters between the juvenile and other men.

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