Wilenchik wins case against inmate

The lawyer who was criticized for the way he handled an investigation against a Phoenix newspaper chalked up a victory Tuesday defending the Maricopa County’s Sheriff’s Office in an unrelated case.

The win for private attorney Dennis Wilenchik came against a former inmate who sued the sheriff saying he was injured in an overcrowded jail cell, according to a statement from the sheriff’s office.

It came nearly two weeks after Wilenchik was blasted at a news conference by County Attorney Andrew Thomas for “serious missteps” as a specially-appointed prosecutor in a case against the Phoenix New Times newspaper. Wilenchik was asked to investigate possible criminal charges against the newspaper on suspicion of illegally revealing the sheriff’s home address online.

Wilenchik in an e-mail Tuesday called the past two weeks “unfair” and said he was pleased with Tuesday’s unanimous jury verdict, which he said was reached after less than an hour of deliberation.

In a written statement, Sheriff Joe Arpaio praised Wilenchik, whose office has earned about $1.8 million in taxpayer money defending the county against lawsuits on a contract basis.

Arpaio wrote: “Taxpayers of this county owe Wilenchek(sic) a debt of gratitude. He has saved them millions of dollars.”

Lawyers for Lonnie Mitchell, the man who sued the sheriff’s office, could not be reached for comment.