State lawmakers outraged by the sexual assault of a girl at a Phoenix elementary school last week are vowing to fight back with legislation.
Republican state Sen. Janae Shamp is going after what she calls a failed system for handing out probation to child sex offenders.
"This was not an accident. This was not unpredictable. This was the result of a justice system that has forgotten its first duty: public safety before offender sympathy," Shamp said.
25-year-old Abel Gblah is a convicted sex offender and repeat probation violator. Police say he entered Orangewood Elementary through an unsecured door and assaulted a 10-year-old girl under the guise of being a doctor.
Kayleigh Kozak is a survivor of child sexual abuse and joined lawmakers in calling for reform.
"I stand here today completely shattered by the systematic failures that allowed an innocent little girl to be violated. This is not just about this one man’s heinous acts. It is about the system that failed over and over and over again," Kozak said.
Kozak said this latest case has exposed gaping holes in the legal process.
-
The relationship between Pinal County Attorney Brad Miller and the Board of Supervisors has been rocky since a legal fight started over Miller unilaterally signing up to work with ICE. -
Court records show both settlements stem from negligence claims filed after traffic accidents involving on-duty officers who were driving. -
Learn more about the candidates for the 2026 race for Arizona attorney general. -
Yuma physician Irfan Fazil has been convicted on four felony counts related to a massive fraud scheme against AHCCCS — the state’s Medicaid system. The Arizona Attorney General’s Office says Fazil billed patients for services they never received. -
The Pinal County Sheriff's Office says they received a call for a welfare check around 11:30 p.m. on Thursday near Empire Boulevard and Gary Road in San Tan Valley. When they arrived, they found a 16-year-old boy with life-threatening injuries.
