Trial for former AZ prisons director postponed until after Election Day

By Matthew Casey
Published: Thursday, October 20, 2022 - 4:34pm

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Arizona Department of Corrections Director Charles Ryan
Alexandra Olgin/KJZZ
Charles Ryan in 2018.

The trial for Charles Ryan, the former Arizona prisons director who was involved in an armed standoff with police at his home, has been postponed.

And it won’t happen before voters choose the next Maricopa County attorney.

Interim County Attorney Rachel Mitchell would not say if Ryan has been offered a plea agreement.

Ryan was arrested in January and a grand jury indicted him in April for disorderly conduct with a gun and illegally shooting one within city limits.

The court calendar in Ryan’s case shows trial was tentatively scheduled to start this week. But it’s been postponed until at least Nov. 22.

At a news conference Wednesday, Mitchell said there are many factors when scheduling a trial.

“That includes witness availability, attorneys on both sides, as well as the availability of a court,” she said.

Mitchell has touted a new policy of requiring prison time in plea offers for certain crimes involving guns.

But the policy does not cover the charges Ryan faces.

The Republican Mitchell is running against Democrat Julie Gunnigle for the right to remain top local prosecutor.

Law Enforcement