PHOENIX — In the criminal case against a prison whistleblower, state corrections officials and county prosecutors are being accused of withholding video evidence that could be used to prove the defendant’s charges are retaliatory.
Lieutenant Mark Hasz was fired and then charged with aggravated assault after a use-of-force incident on July 21, 2020, inside the Lewis prison complex.
As part of his defense, Hasz’s attorney convinced the court to order the Arizona Department of Corrections, Rehabilitation and Reentry and Maricopa County Attorney’s Office to turn over video and records from a year’s worth of use-of-force incidents at the prison.
Court records show there were more than 400 incidents subject to the court’s order. In recent court hearings, however, Hasz’s attorney has alleged that they know of multiple “egregious” incidents that have not been disclosed.
“We know there are three videos of pretty egregious violations of ADOC’s use of force that have not been provided. I don’t know if they’re trying to cherry-pick videos and not disclose the worst ones or not,” said defense attorney Thomas Baker, during a July hearing.
The county attorney’s office denied that any videos are being “willfully withheld.”
“The allegation that MCAO has withheld any discovery is not accurate,” according to a statement released by MCAO.
“Per the court’s direction, the Arizona Attorney General’s Office is handling the release of some disclosure in this case because they represent the ADCRR....
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