Retired Arizona prisons boss faces sentencing on no-contest plea stemming from armed standoff

PHOENIX (AP) — Former Arizona prisons chief Charles Ryan is scheduled to be sentenced on a disorderly conduct charge after pleading no contest in a case involving a 2022 standoff with police. Authorities say he fired a gun inside his Tempe home and pointed a firearm at two officers during the three-hour incident. The plea agreement calls for Ryan to serve a sentence of probation and pay $8,500 to cover Tempe police’s costs in conducting the investigation. Ryan told police he didn’t remember pointing a gun at officers. He acknowledged drinking tequila that evening, though he said he had just two shots. Ryan’s sentencing is set for Thursday. He retired as corrections director in 2019.