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Arpaio's malicious-prosecution trial begins

Posted at 11:23 AM, Dec 06, 2017
and last updated 2017-12-06 13:23:35-05

Jurors who will decide a malicious-prosecution trial were told about the emotional distress that one of Arizona Sen. Jeff Flake's sons suffered when former Sheriff Joe Arpaio brought an animal cruelty case against him.

The now-dismissed criminal case against Austin Flake and his then-wife is at the center of a civil trial that began Tuesday.

The couple was charged after 21 dogs at a kennel operated by the younger Flake's in-laws died after the facility's air conditioner failed.

The Flakes were watching the dogs while the in-laws were in Florida.

Their attorney says a judge has determined Arpaio didn't have probable cause to charge them.

Arpaio attorney Jeffrey Leonard says the sheriff's officers conducted a competent investigation.