8 Jan 23rd-Jan 29th, 2025 phoenixnewtimes.com PHOENIX NEW TIMES | NEWS | FEATURE | FOOD & DRINK | ARTS & CULTURE | MUSIC | CONCERTS | CANNABIS | also listed as a possible witness on Stout’s behalf, was a no-show at the hearing. According to the police reports, Stout told investigators that Mitchell had “a conversation with the assistant chief” of police about Gagic, prompting police to open a case against the suspended attorney. Stout also told police the matter had been reported to the FBI and that “he and Rachel” would be interviewed by the FBI because “the FBI felt there was cyberstalking.” According to court records, Gagic was served with the injunction against harass- ment by FBI agent Wyatt Storm, who was accompanied by deputies from the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office. In body cam footage from the sheriff’s office posted online by Gagic, Storm tells Gagic that the injunction was sent to the FBI by Mitchell’s office. The FBI’s Phoenix office did not reply to an inquiry from New Times about whether it is investigating Gagic. Gagic’s criticism of Stout online certainly wasn’t tame. The Phoenix police report describes posts in which Gagic calls Stout “a total pussy” and a “fucking loser,” among other things, and challenges the former shoe salesman and retired state worker to “confront me like a man you fucking dipshit.” Gagic also called Albrecht a “fucking commie.” At least one police officer seemed skep- tical that Stout or Mitchell faced danger from Gagic. The officer wrote that Stout “did not provide specific examples or elements of specific threats made toward him.” Still, the police reports state the case was “submitted to the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office for review” for possible prosecution of Gagic on charges of “aggra- vated harassment,” a class 6 felony. Mitchell’s office did not reply to a request for comment on the possible conflict of interest inherent in deciding whether to prosecute a case wherein Mitchell’s fiancé is the alleged victim. Gagic believes Stout is pursuing a crim- inal case against him so that a conviction can be used in a lawsuit for financial gain. According to the police reports, Stout told an officer that Gagic’s accusations against him “would be a civil lawsuit for him eventually.” “The facts proven in a criminal case are automatically proven in a civil case,” Gagic told New Times. “It carries over automati- cally. I don’t get to contest it.” A bar complaint Two years ago, the State Bar suspended Gagic’s law license for a year. The punishment was levied after Gagic criti- cized and made accusations against judges assigned to the criminal case of Jamaal Pennington, a Phoenix resident whom Gagic had defended against charges of child molestation and sex trafficking. The bar also hit Gagic with a $6,000 fine, which he has not paid. Hypothetically, Gagic could pay the fine and seek reinstatement, though he’d have to show he’s been rehabilitated. His persis- tent criticism of the State Bar would make this a tall order. Mitchell has sought to make it insurmountable. According to correspondence between the State Bar and Gagic obtained by New Times, Mitchell lodged a separate bar complaint against Gagic in July. In her complaint, Mitchell identified herself as “the elected Maricopa County Attorney” and complained that Gagic “has been repeatedly criticizing me on X” and now “he is defaming my fiancé.” Mitchell cited a post in which Gagic asked if Stout is a convicted sex offender, though Gagic now concedes he had found the criminal history of the wrong Paul Stout. “My fiancé has no such record,” Mitchell wrote. She added that even though Gagic remains suspended, “this is so beyond the pale — he needs to be disbarred.” The State Bar informed Gagic on Oct. 15 that he was under investigation regarding the complaint. A spokesperson for the bar declined to comment to New Times. Gagic is appealing Albrecht’s decision upholding Stout’s injunction. The appeal is stalled because Albrecht did not sign his order and “unsigned rulings are not appealable,” according to an appeals court response sent to Gagic. The appeals court has stayed Gagic’s appeal until Jan. 22 or until Albrecht issues a signed order, which- ever comes first. (Ironically, the Pennington case, which sparked Gagic’s issues with the State Bar and prompted Stout to engage with Gagic online, was recently overturned in part by the court of appeals because the prosecutor “misstated evidence” to the jury.) Gagic said he’s not holding his breath that any of this will work out in his favor. “If I’m not a lawyer ever again, that’s OK,” he said. “Because my dream job is selling power tools at Home Depot.” Cops on Speed Dial from p 6 Police records show that Maricopa County Attorney Rachel Mitchell has flirted with a conflict of interest regarding her fiancé’s injunction against Vladimir Gagic, who loudly criticizes Mitchell on social media. (Photo by Gage Skidmore via Flickr)
