The following is the opinion
and analysis of the writer:
I am the former chief criminal deputy of the Pima County Attorney’s Office and have 18 years of prosecutorial experience.
Joe Watson got it wrong in his recent guest opinion complaining about Tim Steller’s column criticizing Pima County Attorney Laura Conover’s handling of repeat gun offenders. Steller revealed a documented pattern of problematic light treatment of repeat offenders by the Pima County Attorney. Steller appropriately referred to the situation as “a revolving door for criminals” arrested for gun crimes.
He noted that “it’s the revolving door that drives the police crazy and can endanger the public.” He stated that the police are now taking cases to the U.S. Attorney’s Office rather than see their cases undermined by the Pima County Attorney’s Office. Steller gave examples of prohibited possessors getting probation over and over again while they continued to break the law. His column should have been a wake-up call to Conover to reconsider her dangerous policies. Unfortunately, Steller’s column was met by an unwarranted pushback from Conover’s former communications director, Joe Watson.
Watson takes the position that the police are overly aggressive, that repeat gun offenders should all get probation, and that Conover is correct to give probation to repeat gun offenders. Watson’s total contempt for law enforcement and his embrace of no real accountability for serious gun criminals is disturbing. Watson disclosed that he previously worked for Conover but he failed to disclose a lengthy Arizona State Prison sentence for robbery. Watson was released in 2018. The Star’s readers deserve to know about Watson’s criminal history in determining whether his prior involvement in the criminal justice system influenced his opinion concerning lenient treatment of criminals.
I appreciate that Watson has turned his life around and that he is now making a real contribution to the community. Watson is entitled to his opinions. His opinions are not the problem. The dangerous policies of the County Attorney are the problem.
From my experience, felons who continue to illegally carry weapons are not interested in rehabilitation but rather carry guns to intimidate the public and to continue with their life of crime. Taking them off the streets reduces the likelihood of escalating crime and violence. Steller was right to be concerned.
Full disclosure requires me to note that I have always opposed Conover’s extremely lenient plea policies, and I supported her opponents in the last two elections.
Hopefully, Conover will reconsider her position on prohibited possessor cases for the sake of the safety of the people of Pima County.
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