A former Maricopa County elections worker has been indicted in three theft cases that allegedly occurred over the past two months, according to Maricopa County Attorney Rachel Mitchell.
The 27-year-old Democratic party operative, Walter Ringfield Jr., has been charged with three felonies and one misdemeanor:
- One count of Computer Tampering, a Class Two Felony
- One count of Theft, a Class Three Felony
- One count of Burglary, a Class Four Felony and
- One count of Criminal Trespassing, a Class Three Misdemeanor
Ringfield, who was arrested in June, filed a statement of interest as a Democrat for the US Senate race in Arizona on January 22, 2023.
According to Maricopa County officials, the indictment stems from three separate submittals the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office (MCAO) received from the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office (MCSO), the Arizona Department of Public Safety (DPS), and the Phoenix Police Department (PPD).
On May 20, 2024, Ringfield was captured on surveillance video removing $9500 worth of vintage jewelry from mannequins at the Phoenix Art Museum. PPD submitted the case to MCAO on July 1.
On June 15, 2024, Ringfield was captured on video surveillance at the Arizona state legislature walking through a secured area and removing seven challenge coins and three coasters. DPS submitted its case on July 1.
On June 20, 2024, while employed at the Maricopa County Elections Department, Ringfield is accused of taking a security fob from the Maricopa County Tabulation and Elections Center building (MCTEC). MCSO submitted its case on June 24.
Ringfield was employed by the Maricopa County Elections Department which falls under the control of the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors.
While Ringfield’s stunning theft was captured by a surveillance camera, members of the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors did little to reassure the public that elections are secure. Instead they quickly dismissed concerns as partisan in nature only and offered as the only remedy reassurances that the election equipment undergo the standard logic and accuracy testing.
Ringfield is currently being held non-bondable.
