Tuesday was Day 4 of the federal trial pitting former Sheriff Joe Arpaio against the son of Republican Sen. Jeff Flake.
Flake's son and former wife sued Arpaio after he charged them in the Gilbert kennel deaths three years ago.
Austin Flake's former wife, Logan Brown, testified for the first time about Arpaio's actions, which she said made her an emotional wreck.
Her voice trembling at times, Brown said she felt her life spinning out of control after Arpaio recommended 21 felony animal cruelty charges against the couple in September 2014.
Twenty-one dogs died at the a Gilbert kennel owned by Brown's parents, while she and Austin Flake were caring for them.
Brown and Flake were never arrested. The charges in the kennel deaths were dropped after prosecutors learned Arpaio's investigators withheld evidence.
A year later, Brown and Flake sued Arpaio for malicious prosecution, alleging he was striking back at a political rival, Austin's senator father.
Brown testified that she suffered about 30 panic attacks after she was charged, she feared being arrested at any time, and she saw the end of her marriage to Austin Flake.
"They really, really messed with my life, Austin's life, my family's life and who knows who else they can do this to," she said of Arpaio and his investigators.
Brown said Arpaio went as far as sending a file on the case to Brigham Young University, where she and Austin Flake were students.
"We were called into the honor code office," she said.
On cross-examination, Arpaio attorney Evan Hiller appeared to blame news reports for making the connection between Austin Flake and his father before Arpaio held his first news conference on the deaths.
Hiller also suggested it was Brown whose actions led to the charges against her.
The lone spectators in the courtoom Tuesday were Cheryl Flake, the senator's wife and Austin Flake's mother, and a Flake aunt and uncle.
Austin Flake is expected to take the witness stand Wednesday.
The Maricopa County prosecutor who oversaw the case is expected to testify for the defense.
The case could go to the jury later Wednesday.
Arpaio lost his bid for re-election in 2016, a year after the Flake lawsuit was filed. Maricopa County must foot his legal bill because he's being sued for actions that occurred while carrying out his duties as sheriff.