...The criminal case against the Flakes was dismissed at the request of prosecutors — and the kennel owners later pleaded guilty to animal cruelty charges — after an expert determined the facility's air conditioner failed because the operators didn't properly maintain it. The judge presiding over the civil trial had told jurors that authorities didn't have probable cause to charge the Flakes.

The couple alleged in their lawsuit that Arpaio brought the case against them to garner publicity for himself and to do political damage to Flake's father.

Their lawyers said the senator drew Arpaio's ire by disagreeing with the sheriff over immigration and criticizing the movement that questioned the authenticity of then-President Barack Obama's birth certificate.

https://tucson.com/news/ju...