Sources Say Sheriff Arpaio Botched Sex Crime Cases

More than 400 sex-crime cases reported to Maricopa County (Ariz.) Sheriff Joe Arpaio's office during a three year period were inadequately investigated, police sources told the Associated Press.

In some instances the cases from the period ending in 2007 weren't investigated at all. Here's an excerpt:

In El Mirage alone, where Arpaio's office was providing contract police services, officials discovered at least 32 reported child molestations - with victims as young as 2 years old - where the sheriff's office failed to follow through, even though suspects were known in all but six cases.

Many of the victims, said a retired El Mirage police official who reviewed the files, were children of illegal immigrants.

In response to the allegations, Sheriff Arpaio has launched an internal probe into the matter.