Complaint No. 1783706393 - 371635429

Craig L Churella

Mesa Police Department

130 North Robson

Mesa, Arizona 85201

480 644 2211

https://www.mesaaz…

Date of Offense

January 18, 2025

Complaint

Conduct Unbecoming [Off-Duty]

Supporting Document(s)

Binder1.pdf

Statement

In March 2020 Craig Churella and Jennifer Stephen divorced and were awarded joint legal decision making for their daughter Alison Churella. On 11/03/2025 Craig took Alison to the MVD for her driver's permit. Alison text Jennifer they were turned away because both parents had to sign the permit application and notarize it. Jennifer did not want Alison having her permit yet. During his next custodial time on 11/08/2025, Craig took Alison to a third party MVD. Under penalty of perjury Craig signed the application that he was still "married to the other natural parent" to supersede the legal requirement. Craig committed Driver's License Application Fraud, a class 2 misdemeanor by fraudulently obtained Alison's driving permit by lying on the application. In addition to a violation of the law, his actions were in contempt of court, violating the courts order of joint legal decision-making. Craig's actions have civil financial liability implications as well.

Location

9526 Thatcher Ave, Mesa, AZ 85212, USA

33.3209281, -111.6281557

Arizona Public Records Law

§39-121 et seq.

The Arizona Public Records Law has been in existence for more than 100 years and mandates that all public records be open to inspection by any person at all times during office hours. Public records include books, papers, maps, photographs or other documentary materials. Lake v. City of Phoenix recently established that digital meta-data, attached to files stored in any electronic form are considered part of that document and are thus subject to open records requests.

The Arizona Public Records Law does have some exceptions which include: student records, research records, donor information, or if the release of a record would constitute an invasion of personal privacy and that invasion outweighs the public’s right to know, of if the disclosure of a record is detrimental to the best interests of the state. Arizona law also requires individuals who are making a FOIA request for commercial purposes to state those purposes.