On Friday, a Maricopa County sheriff's deputy showed up at the county's information technology office to demand backup copies of e-mail messages relating to the Melendres matter that the county discovered:

A federal judge sanctioned Arpaio for destroying e-mail and other evidence relating to crime-suppression sweeps. The lawsuit has also brought Arpaio and one of his chief deputies to depositions.

Many assumed the e-mail messages were gone forever until county officials discovered they had a backup copy...

Friday afternoon, a sheriff’s commander, Bob Rampy, showed up at the county’s information technology facility to take possession of the e-mail, saying the messages were MCSO property and contained sensitive information that could jeopardize ongoing criminal cases...

David Bodney, an attorney handling the racial profiling lawsuit, said Arpaio "shouldn't be turning this document destruction issue into a grudge match between the Sheriff's Office and Maricopa County."

Sheriff Joe Arpaio's office is in trouble for destroying evidence. We just have to wait to find out how much.

A federal judge has found grounds for sanctions after some sheriff's officials admitted to deleting their e-mails and shredding records of traffic stops made during crime sweeps.

A lawsuit accuses deputies of racially profiling Hispanics during the crime sweeps.

"I am extremely happy in the courts finding," Arpaio said in a statement. "My office will we be cooperating fully in this matter. At the end of the day I am confident in my deputies and the service they provide to the citizens of Maricopa County."

The judge said he'll wait until related issues are sorted out before punishing MCSO.