Deputy acquitted of rape submits claim against PCSO

TUCSON - A former Pima County Sheriff's Office deputy acquitted of rape charges last year has submitted a claim against PCSO and the Pima County Attorney's Office, claiming over $5 million in damages.

Criminal Defense Attorney Natasha Wrae who was on Canizales' defense team during his criminal case which ended in an acquittal, represents him now on his civil suit.

Michael Angelo Canizales was accused of sexually assaulting a fellow deputy who he met in a bar in January 2009 - the deputy claimed a drunken Canizales raped her when they want back to her home.

In February, his first trial ended in a mistrial, then, in September, Canizales was found not guilty of all counts.

In a court document obtained by News 4, Canizales' attorney claims $5 million in damages for "defamation of character, pain, suffering, emotional distress, professional and public humiliation, and isolation," in addition to lost wages, loans, and the sale of a 2006 Jeep Rubicon.

The claim alleges that the female deputy colluded with two Pima County attorneys to "maliciously prosecute Deputy Canizales and the subsequent malicious presentment of criminal charges." The claim states this "amounted to a willful use of the judicial process for an ulterior purpose not proper in the regular conduct of the proceedings."

The claim states that as a result of the negligent investigation, Canizales "continues to suffer emotionally, financially, personally and professionally.