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On May 24, 1977, Michael and Patrick Poland kidnapped two armored van guards, Russell Dempsey and Cecil Newkirk, on their way to Prescott, Sedona and Flagstaff. The Poland brothers took approximately $300,000 in cash. On May 25, 1977, the Poland brothers put the guards into canvas bags and dumped them into Lake Mead. Dempsey and Newkirk’s bodies were found three weeks later. The U.S. District Court in Tucson convicted Michael and Patrick Poland on five counts of robbery and two counts of kidnapping and sentenced the brothers to 100 years in prison. In 1979, the Yavapai County Superior Court convicted and sentenced the Poland brothers to death for the guards’ murders. In April 1982, the Arizona Supreme Court reversed the lower court’s decision and sent the case back to trial. In October 1982, the Poland brothers were convicted of murder a second time and in February 1983, they were sentenced to death. Michael Poland was executed on June 16, 1999. Patrick Poland was executed on March 15, 2000.
This collection contains the case files for Arizona vs. Polands, transcripts of court proceedings, and post-conviction motions. The case file include biographical information about the Poland borthers, subpeonas, affidavits, letters to the presiding judges from the defendents, motions and responses, and the warrants of execution. The court transcripts cover the 1979 trial and the second trial in 1982.
All photocopies of original materials are made by staff. We reserve the right to refuse copy services based on physical condition and possible damage to the materials.
For preservation purposes, if microfilm copies are available, patrons will use the microfilm first.
Under Arizona Revised Statute 39-141, public records used for commercial purposes have additional requirements. Please contact the Arizona State Archives for further information.
It is the researcher’s responsibility to determine the copyright status of materials he or she uses. The Arizona State Library, Archives and Public Records is not legally or financially responsible for any copyright infringement by researchers.
Many documents held by the Arizona State Archives come under the Public Record law (ARS 41-1350). Documents created by the government are not copyrighted. The United States of America Copyright Law (P.L. 94-553, effective Jan. 1, 1978) extends statutory rights of authority to unpublished works which were previously protected by literary property rights under common law. Such works do not have to be registered with the Copyright Office to receive protection under the law.
Please consult Arizona Attorney General, Criminal Division (RG 4, SG 5).
A-2010-056.
Bibliographic citations must cite the title of the record group(s), the box or volume number, the History and Archives Division and the name of the Arizona State Library, Archives and Public Records in full. Please use the following example:
Governor George W.P. Hunt to Ely Sims, November 21, 1919, Box 14, Office of the Governor, RG 1, History and Archives Division, Arizona State Library, Archives and Public Records.
Archives staff organized the collection into three sets of materials: case files, transcripts, and post-conviction filings and motions. The original order of the case files was maintained. Staff organized the transcripts and post-conviction motions chronologically. Yavapai County transferred the master microfilm for the case files as well. Records Management assigned numbers 50.14.31 and 50.14.32 to the rolls and put them into cold-storage.
Yavapai County Superior Court Criminal Case #8850 AZ v. Michael Kent Poland, AZ v. Patrick Gene Poland | |||||||||||
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1:1 | Case file: Motions and warrant of execution, letter to Judge Paul G. Rosenblatt from Michael and Patrick Poland, exhibits list, subpoenas, affidavits, 04/26/1979-09/11/1979 | ||||||||||
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1:2 | Case file: witness lists, motions, subpoenas, affidavits, 09/17/1979-10/22/1979 | ||||||||||
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1:3 | Case file: witnesses, subpoenas, motions, affidavits, 10/23/1979-11/15/1979 | ||||||||||
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1:4 | Case file: Motions and biographical information about perpetrators, exhibits, subpoenas, 11/16/1979-04/09/1980 | ||||||||||
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1:5 | Case file: Order for a new trial, motions, orders, 04/09/1980-08/19/1982 | ||||||||||
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1:6 | Case file: Motions, orders, jury questions and lists, 08/19/1982-10/21/1982 | ||||||||||
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1:7 | Case file: Letter from Patrick Poland to Judge Paul G. Rosenblatt, proceedings, 10/21/1982-01/11/1983 | ||||||||||
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1:8 | Case file: Subpoenas, memorandum, letter from Patrick Poland to Judge Paul. G. Rosenblatt, 01/11/1983-02/03/1983 | ||||||||||
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2:9 | Case file: Verdict, motions, biographical information about perpetrators, 02/02/1983-10/02/1987 | ||||||||||
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2:10 | Case file: Motions and responses, 11/02/1987-04/07/1988 | ||||||||||
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2:11 | Case file: Motions and responses, 04/15/1988-09/28/1988 | ||||||||||
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2:12 | Case file: Motions and responses, 02/29/1988-10/06/1992 | ||||||||||
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2:13 | Case file: Motions and responses, 10/08/1992-07/06/1993 | ||||||||||
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2:14 | Case file: Motions and responses, 08/08/1993-09/01/1993 | ||||||||||
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2:15 | Case file: Motions and responses, 09/13/1993-01/03/1994 | ||||||||||
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2:16 | Case file: Motions and responses, 01/18/1994-04/10/1995 | ||||||||||
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2:17 | Case file: Motions and responses, warrant of execution, 09/14/1998-11/15/1999 | ||||||||||
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2:18 | Case file: Motions and responses, warrant of execution, order designating case as historically significant (02/28/2008), 11/30/1999-03/15/2000 | ||||||||||
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3:19 | Initial appearance and arraignment; Reporter's Transcript of Proceedings: Arraignment, 05/08/1979 | ||||||||||
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3:20 | Omnibus Hearing, 06/29/1979 | ||||||||||
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3:21 | Reporter's Transcript of Proceedings: Hearing on Various Motions, 09/17/1979 | ||||||||||
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3:22 | Hearing on Pending Motions, 09/18/1979 | ||||||||||
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3:23 | Reporter's Transcript on Appeal, 09/19/1979 | ||||||||||
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3:24 | Reporter's Transcript of Proceedings: Suppression Hearing, 10/10/1979 | ||||||||||
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3:25 | Reporter's Transcript on Appeal; Reporter's Transcript: Trial, 10/23/1979 | ||||||||||
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3:26 | Reporter's Transcript of Proceedings: Trial, 10/24/1979 | ||||||||||
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3:27 | Reporter's Transcript of Voir Dire Examination of the Jury; Reporters Transcript of Proceedings: Trial, 10/25/1979 | ||||||||||
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3:28 | Reporter's Transcript on Appeal, 10/26/1979 | ||||||||||
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3:29 | Reporter's Transcript of Proceedings: Trial, 10/29/1979 | ||||||||||
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3:30 | Reporter's Transcript of Proceedings: Trial, 10/29/1979 | ||||||||||
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3:31 | Reporter's Transcript of Proceedings: Trial, 10/30/1979 | ||||||||||
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3:32 | Partial Transcript of Proceedings, 10/30/1979 | ||||||||||
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3:33 | Reporter's Transcript of Proceedings: Trial, 10/31/1979 | ||||||||||
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3:34 | Reporter's Transcript of Proceedings: Trial; Partial Transcript of Trial Proceedings (1:30 PM to 2:40 PM), 11/01/1979 | ||||||||||
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3:35 | Partial Transcript of Proceedings, 2:40 PM (3 copies), 11/01/1979 | ||||||||||
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3:36 | Reporter's Transcript of Proceedings: Trial, 11/02/1979 | ||||||||||
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3:37 | Reporter's Transcript on Appeals, 11/02/1979 | ||||||||||
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3:38 | Reporter's Transcript of Proceedings: Trial, 11/05/1979 | ||||||||||
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3:39 | Reporter's Transcript of Proceedings: Trial, 11/06/1979 | ||||||||||
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3:40 | Reporter's Transcript of Proceedings: Trial, 11/07/1979 | ||||||||||
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3:41 | Reporter's Transcript of Proceedings: Trial, 11/08/1979 | ||||||||||
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4:42 | Reporter's Transcript of Proceedings: Trial, 11/09/1979 | ||||||||||
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4:43 | Reporter's Transcript of Proceedings: Trial, 11/13/1979 | ||||||||||
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4:44 | Reporter's Transcript of Proceedings: Trial, 11/14/1979 | ||||||||||
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4:45 | Reporter's Partial transcript of Proceedings: Testimony of James A. Mabb; Reporter's Transcript on Appeal, 11/14/1979 | ||||||||||
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4:46 | Reporter's Transcript of Proceedings: Trial, 11/15/1979 | ||||||||||
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4:47 | Reporter's Transcript on Appeal, 11/16/1979 | ||||||||||
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4:48 | Reporter's Transcript of Proceedings: Trial, 11/19/1979 | ||||||||||
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4:49 | Reporter's Transcript of Proceedings: Trial, 11/20/1979 | ||||||||||
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4:50 | Reporter's Transcript of Proceedings: Trial, 11/21/1979 | ||||||||||
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4:51 | Reporter's Transcript of Proceedings: Trial, 11/23/1979-11/24/1979 | ||||||||||
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4:52 | Reporter's Transcript of Proceedings: Motion for New Trial, 12/17/1979-12/19/1979 | ||||||||||
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4:53 | Sentencing Hearing, 02/29/1979 | ||||||||||
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4:54 | Sentencing, 04/09/1980 | ||||||||||
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4:55 | Reporter's Transcript of Proceedings regarding television coverage, 06/21/1982 | ||||||||||
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4:56 | Reporter's Transcript on Appeal; Reporter's Transcript of Proceedings: Motions, Phone conference, 07/26/1982-10/12/1982 | ||||||||||
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4:57 | Reporter's Transcript on Appeal: Trial index, 10/18/1982-11/18/1982 | ||||||||||
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4:58 | Reporter's Transcript on Appeal: Trial, 10/18/1982 | ||||||||||
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4:59 | Reporter's Transcript on Appeal: Trial, 10/19/1982 | ||||||||||
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4:60 | Reporter's Transcript on Appeal: Trial, 10/20/1982 | ||||||||||
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4:61 | Reporter's Transcript on Appeal: Trial, 10/21/1982 | ||||||||||
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5:62 | Reporter's Transcript on Appeal: Trial, 10/22/1982 | ||||||||||
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5:63 | Reporter's Transcript on Appeal: Trial, 10/25/1982 | ||||||||||
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5:64 | Reporter's Transcript on Appeal: Trial, 10/26/1982 | ||||||||||
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5:65 | Reporter's Transcript on Appeal: Trial, 10/27/1982 | ||||||||||
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5:66 | Reporter's Transcript on Appeal: Trial, 11/01/1982 | ||||||||||
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5:67 | Reporter's Transcript on Appeal: Trial, 11/02/1982 | ||||||||||
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5:68 | Reporter's Transcript on Appeal: Trial, 11/03/1982 | ||||||||||
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5:69 | Reporter's Transcript on Appeal: Trial, 11/04/1982 | ||||||||||
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5:70 | Reporter's Transcript on Appeal: Trial, 11/05/1982 | ||||||||||
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5:71 | Reporter's Transcript on Appeal: Trial, 11/08/1982 | ||||||||||
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5:72 | Reporter's Transcript on Appeal: Trial, 11/09/1982 | ||||||||||
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5:73 | Reporter's Transcript on Appeal: Trial, 11/10/1982 | ||||||||||
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5:74 | Reporter's Transcript on Appeal: Trial, 11/11/1982 | ||||||||||
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6:75 | Reporter's Transcript on Appeal: Trial, 11/12/1982 | ||||||||||
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6:76 | Reporter's Transcript on Appeal: Trial, 11/15/1982 | ||||||||||
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6:77 | Reporter's Transcript on Appeal: Trial, 11/16/1982 | ||||||||||
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6:78 | Reporter's Transcript on Appeal: Trial, 11/17/1982 | ||||||||||
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6:79 | Reporter's Transcript on Appeal: Trial, 11/18/1982 | ||||||||||
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6:80 | Reporter's Transcript on Appeal: Sentencing Hearing, 12/16/1982 | ||||||||||
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6:81 | Reporter's Transcript on Appeal: Sentencing Hearing, 01/11/1983 | ||||||||||
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6:82 | Reporter's Transcript on Appeal: Sentencing, 02/03/1982 | ||||||||||
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6:83 | Reporter's Transcript of Proceedings: Hearing on Petition for Post-Conviction Relief, 07/27/1988 | ||||||||||
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6:84 | Defendant Patrick Poland's Ex Parte Motion for appropriation of funds for expert services and appointment of second counsel, 11/19/1992 | ||||||||||
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6:85 | Exhibits for Defendant Patrick Poland's Ex Parte Motion for appropriation of funds for expert services and appointment of second counsel, 11/19/1992 | ||||||||||
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6:86 | Memorandum of Points and Authorities in support of Poland's amended petition for post conviction relief, 06/10/1993 | ||||||||||
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6:87 | Exhibits in RE: Memorandum of Points and Authorities in support of Poland's amended petition for post conviction relief (Exhibits 1-31), 06/10/1993 | ||||||||||
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6:88 | Exhibits in RE: Memorandum of Points and Authorities in support of Poland's amended petition for post conviction relief (Exhibits 32-81), 06/10/1993 | ||||||||||
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7:89 | Petitioner's Memorandum of Points and Authorities in support of his amended petition for post conviction relief, 06/10/1993 | ||||||||||
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7:90 | Appendix of exhibits to Petitioner's Memorandum of points and authorities in support of his petition for post-conviction relief (Exhibits 1-33), 06/10/1993 | ||||||||||
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7:91 | Appendix of exhibits to Petitioner's Memorandum of points and authorities in support of his petition for post-conviction relief (Exhibits 34-80), 06/10/1993 | ||||||||||
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7:92 | Exhibits A-H to response to and motion to dismiss amended petition for post-conviction relief, 09/20/1994 | ||||||||||
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7:93 | Exhibits I-Q to response to and motion to dismiss amended petition for post-conviction relief, 09/20/1994 | ||||||||||
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7:94 | Exhibits R-W to response to and motion to dismiss amended petition for post-conviction relief, 09/20/1994 | ||||||||||
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7:95 | Exhibits X-Z to response to and motion to dismiss amended petition for post-conviction relief, 09/20/1994 | ||||||||||
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7:96 | Index of appendix for petition for review to the Arizona Supreme Court, 02/09/1994 | ||||||||||
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7:97 | Appendix of exhibits to petitioner's [Third] petition for post-conviction relief and incorporated memorandum of points and authorities (Exhibits 1-21), 11/15/1999 | ||||||||||
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7:98 | Appendix of exhibits to petitioner's [Third] petition for post-conviction relief and incorporated memorandum of points and authorities (Exhibits 22-38), 11/15/1999 |