Injustice in Maricopa County Arizona

When a Swat team could arrive at Courtney's Scottsdale home in McDowell Mountain Ranch and arrest her, WITHOUT an arrest warrant, NO search warrant, held NONbondable for 66 days in jail, NO medical physical exam done on Courtney for the police report, NO investigation of the alleged crime scene, NO physical evidence, on the word of a teenager and his mother who had criminal background, then you have to wonder how the Scottsdale Police Detective and his officers are allowed to operate like this. The Second grand jury said the detective committed administrative error and made Courtney bondable at $100,000. How is this reasonable bond, when a recent PV teacher had 29 counts, reduced to 17 counts and released on $ 18,000 bond. Is Scottsdale different from Paradise Valley. This disparity, puts all your constituents are at risk.

The destruction caused by the way Courtney was handled by the detective, is beyond comprehension in a "free" country like America. It's certainly not what one would expect in Scottsdale. Courtney was a hardworking, single mom with an adoring 4 1/2 year old. She was an honor student taking Master's classes in elementary education and special ed. She was within two weeks of graduating when the false allegations were made, and she was arrested on February 11, 2004, a hateful election year, longest prison riot in our country here in Maricopa County, the media driven witch-hunts with each teacher / priest / coach arrest, trying to out do the next story. A moral panic has been created by those who gain from all this, as our society is being destroyed bit by bit, with a lack of any common sense or reason.

Courtney Bisbee, is a beloved mother, daughter, sister, aunt, cousin and friend to many. She has been treated as though her life didn't matter and was thrown away by the Scottsdale police and the Maricopa County Attorney's office and their prosecutors. They set the direction from the start with the help of the media.

What a sad commentary for a fine community, that thinks it is very special and cares about children and families. No one cared for family and children more than Courtney. How could Courtney's life be shredded without a second thought, in less than 24 hours, in Scottsdale, AZ? This case should serve as an embarrassment not only to Scottsdale but to the state of Arizona. Where is the leadership that allowed this to happen, and worse yet.... continue? Mistakes were made, those who made them should be held accountable and the cover-up investigated. Unfortunately, this is all too common place today.

Where are the real leaders in this state and county who have courage to correct this mistake?

The abuse of power in this overzealous climate of law enforcement and malicious prosecution should be investigated and there should be a public outcry, because this could happen to anyone. Everyone is at risk. We do not want this travesty of justice to happen to another family.

Those with motive for financial gain have all moved away. Those with political motive have moved on after they scored their points. Courtney was an easy pick, and casualty of a hateful and destructive election year, during an ongoing daily media witch hunt.

Those using the legal and criminal justice system and poorly written laws, as weapons to destroy others need to be investigated and put in prison themselves.

It's time to investigate for fraud, and change laws to take the "bonanza and lottery ticket" of child molest charges away from those devious enough to know how to work the system for their own benefit, since those without a conscience are allowed to operate with reckless abandon. They do not care who gets destroyed in the process. It's time for change and reform.

Courtney arrived from Florida, as one of so many excited newcomers to Arizona, looked forward to a wonderful life. She built her home in 1997, the first one in her neighborhood. This was her young daughter's birth home. We thought she was safe in Scottsdale while starting a new job in the Paradise Valley School district. We were dead wrong. She was very much at risk, as many others are now that they have heard about how her cases in the family custody and criminal courts of Arizona.

When a Swat team was dispatched to her quiet lovely Scottsdale neighborhood and the detective could be allowed to operate above the law with reckless abandon, throw a false story out to the media to get their "high-profile catch" of the day, then it's time for all citizens, and our legislators to stand up and take action.

Courtney was a regular person, not a "high-profile", 'dangerous crimes against children" predator that the media, police and prosecutors portrayed. She could be your daughter, sister or friend. But those in power rushed to judgement to get their conviction, never seeking the truth. There was never a presumption of innocence, nor due process given her. Is this a reflection of life in Scottsdale? If so, people need to be informed of what to expect when they move here.

The Duke LaCrosse Players false allegation case and the abuse of power in their cases, is a perfect example of what was done to Courtney in Scottsdale, Maricopa County, AZ. They were fortunate to have three families who spent three million dollars seeking the truth. How does a single mom with a 4 1/2 year old daughter stand a chance? Who is there for them? They are pretty easy prey for anyone with malicious intent.

We count on our legislators to correct draconian, outdated laws that do not relate to the reality of the times we live in. Mandatory sentencing has solved nothing. Why isn't there an Innocence commission in the state, since there are many people who have been wrongfully convicted? If

there were approximately 40,000 felonies going through the Maricopa County court system in one year, wouldn't it be easy to make serious, life threatening mistakes? There is no place in the criminal justice system for an innocent person and it is time to recognize this reality, and add an innocence commission.

We hope you will take the time out of your busy day to call the officials listed on her website to ask them when Courtney will be released. Please request an investigation in each of their departments for the professional misconduct in her cases.

Some people should be sent to prison for what they have done to Courtney, her daughter and her family, the true victims in this case.

Courtney may have been silenced behind the walls of Perryville Prison, by those with something to hide or gain by her conviction, but she is unconquerable. Her support is growing by the day and we will not let up until Courtney is free and exonerated, a challenge in a broken system.

There will be those who stepped forward to correct a horrific situation, and there will be those who remained silent and indifferent to helping this innocent mother and her child. All will be identified when this is ordeal over. Thank you in advance, for your support and hope you take action to help free Courtney.