Federal Judge Gets Tough on 'America's Toughest Sheriff' Joe Arpaio

The lawman who was once considered "America's Toughest Sheriff" could soon be behind bars.

A federal judge found former Arizona sheriff Joe Arpaio guilty of criminal contempt Monday. 

He is accused of violating a 2001 court order in a racial profiling case where he continued patrols that targeted immigrants.

Judge Susan Bolton determined Arpaio was acting as a de facto wing of the federal government by detaining those living in the U.S. illegally, according to the BBC. 

Only federal officers have jurisdiction over immigration. 

Bolton wrote that Arpaio knew of his court order which stipulated that his department was to turn over detained immigrants to the federal immigration authorities.

"Not only did defendant abdicate responsibility, he announced to the world and to his subordinates that he was going to continue business as usual no matter who said otherwise," Bolton wrote.

She called Arpaio's actions a "flagrant disregard" for the order, but he argued that his court order was vague. 

Arpaio said he did not intend to violate the order and his defense lawyers claim that his former attorney "dropped the ball" when it came to explaining the order to him, CNN reports.

The former sheriff believes the judge who issued the order was biased and would like to appeal to a jury to hear his case. 

"Joe Arpaio is in this for the long haul, and he will continue his fight to vindicate himself, to prove his innocence, and to protect the public," a statement he issued reads.

The 85-year-old could face up to six months in jail, but lawyers say it is unlikely that he will serve time behind bars.