March 28, 2024 12:17 PM
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Arizona sheriff pleads guilty to operating boat while drunk

Yavapai County Sheriff David Rhodes pleaded guilty on Thursday to operating a boat while under the influence of alcohol and was sentenced to a year of probation and will spend two days in home confinement.

The elected first-term sheriff said he deeply regretted offering to dock a boat for a friend while visiting Lake Powell in August.

“I should have said no and I didn’t, and that’s my responsibility,” he told a federal magistrate in Flagstaff. “Not accepting responsibility was never an option for me.”

Rhodes also was ordered to pay about $500 in fees, banned from the Glen Canyon National Recreation Area while he’s on supervised probation and cannot drink alcohol. He told the judge he already completed a boater safety course and substance abuse treatment that were required under his plea agreement with prosecutors.

Rhodes received two citations — one for operating a boat under the influence and another for operating with a blood-alcohol content of at least 0.08%, the legal limit for driving a vehicle in Arizona. Rhodes registered 0.119% and a 0.113% in a field sobriety test.

Each misdemeanor citation carried a maximum of six months in jail and a $5,000 fine.

Rhodes, a Republican, ran unopposed last year and is accountable only to the public. He cannot be disciplined or fired.

Rhodes said he was drinking with family members and friends at the lake on the Arizona-Utah border and they had designated boat operators who weren’t drinking.

When his friend had trouble docking a boat, Rhodes said he tried to coach him and they tried to get someone from the marina to help but were told everyone had gone home for the day.

The friend asked Rhodes to try himself but Rhodes had difficulty operating the boat amid swirling wind, according to a Coconino County Sheriff’s Office report.

He made at least three attempts to dock the boat and damaged two other vessels in the process, the report said. It put the damage estimate at more than $2,000. Rhodes, 48, said the repairs were closer to $400 and he’s paid for them.

The owners of those boats did not seek restitution through the court.

Rhodes, who has worked for the sheriff’s office for 28 years, issued a statement days after he was cited, acknowledging wrongdoing.

His lawyer, Stephen Glazer, said that made it a little difficult to defend Rhodes.

“He makes public statements admitting liability — not necessarily great for his defense — but that’s just the way he is wired,” Glazer said during the hearing. “A wrong was committed, he’s going to accept responsibility and make it right.”

U.S. Magistrate Judge Camille Bibles said she appreciated that Rhodes didn’t use his position as sheriff to try to get out of the situation. She said she would look favorably on a request to terminate probation early.

She said she considered his lack of criminal history, cooperation with law enforcement and taking responsibility in accepting the plea agreement.

“That is something I would expect from an individual in your position,” she said.

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3 Responses

  1. True leaders are not flawless — they own up to their mistakes. Sheriff David Rhodes is a commendable leader in that respect, and Yavapai County should be proud to have him as their sheriff. I only wish we had such exemplary leadership in law enforcement here in the Bay Area.

  2. We publish this story with some hesitation and ambivalence about the message we are sending. The high public interest in the matter was the deciding consideration. We earlier published Sheriff Rhodes statement after the incident. The AP story looks fair and credits his acceptance of responsibility. Enews has sometimes disagreed with the Sheriff on policy issues but overall consider him an honorable man who is professional in his duties. We see no reason why this single misdemeanor which has been addressed responsibly would compromise his ability to serve effectively as Yavapai County Sheriff.
    David Stringer, Publisher, Prescott eNews

  3. It sounds like he was NOT out in the middle of the lake at high speed whilst under the influence, thus no danger to human life or able to cause grievous harm.

    He sounds like a stand-up fellow that was trying to help someone and, at the same time, admits his mistakes. Good on him. He will get my vote in the next election.

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