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Phoenix Drops Charges Against Trans Activist Monica Jones

Monica Jones at the Downtown Campus of ASU.
(Photo by Nick Blumberg-KJZZ)
Monica Jones at the Downtown Campus of ASU.

The City of Phoenix dropped charges against transgender activist Monica Jones Monday evening. 

Jones was found guilty of manifesting prostitution last spring. In January, a Maricopa County Superior Court judge granted her a new trial because the court included evidence of a prior conviction.

Attorney J. Cabou, who represents Jones, said he’s thrilled she won’t be serving time for a crime she didn’t commit.

“Our happiness is tempered by knowing the law is still on the books," he said. "I think Monica and all of us on her legal team regret the fact that the law wasn’t taken off the books.”

The Phoenix ordinance Cabou is referring to describes manifestation of prostitution as behavior like stopping passers-by, flagging down cars and asking people if they’re cops. 

Alexandra Olgin was a Senior Field Correspondent at KJZZ from 2013 to 2016.