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Former MCAO prosecutor who falsely charged protesters as gang members suspended

April Sponsel, who was previously placed on administrative leave and eventually fired, lost her law license for at least two years in the latest ruling.

PHOENIX — The former Maricopa County prosecutor who falsely indicted innocent protesters with gang-related charges in 2020 has had her law license suspended for at least two years.

April Sponsel was fired in June of 2022 after the Maricopa County Attorney's Office found her to display "a disturbing pattern of excessive charging" and failed to review evidence that was available to her.

Sponsel's license was suspended on Tuesday, and the presiding judge found that her actions had "far-reaching, deleterious consequences." County Attorney Rachel Mitchell said that her actions damaged morale and painted the office "with a broad brush" as lacking integrity.

"Ms. Sponsel steadfastly refuses to acknowledge any misconduct or even unintentional missteps," the ruling stated.

Sponsel brought charges against 14 people involved in the 2020 BLM protests. All of them were dropped.

You can read the full decision below:

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