He was perhaps the most well-known sheriff of all time and now, Joe Arpaio is guilty of criminal contempt.
“I don’t think there’s a lawyer in the world that could’ve saved Joe Arpaio here,” attorney and legal analyst James Goodnow told ABC15.
"When you start making arguments that you didn't understand an opinion or a ruling that's pretty clear, that's when your case really starts to go downhill fast," Goodnow said.
TIMELINE: Sheriff Joe's contempt of court case
The 85-year-old could face up to six months in jail. Goodnow believes the conviction will stick but the consequence won’t include any time behind bars.
“He has a clean background. As a first major violation, I'd expect probation or a slap on the wrist through a fine.”
Or – could the conviction be wiped away? President Donald Trump, who considered Arpaio an ally during his campaign, now holds the power to pardon. Still, don’t expect that to happen.
"Donald Trump is dealing with the circus surrounding the White House and all of these issues surrounding Russia so I don’t think he's going to waste a pardon on Joe Arpaio," Goodnow said.
