Is Arpaio appeal a sign he's expecting criminal charges?

Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio, it seems, is in desperate need of your support.

And by support, I mean cash.

The beleaguered sheriff last week sent out an e-mail appeal to supporters announcing that he can no longer pay the mounting tab for his legal defenses, given that he's being "targeted" by the ACLU and other groups over his immigration raids.

"I do not have the personal wealth or the wherewithal to keep up with the costly demands of paying for attorneys to defend me," he wrote.

Arpaio said, "I desperately need your help now -- I cannot do it alone."

In fact, he hasn't had to.

The taxpayers of Maricopa County are paying for Arpaio's legal defense, and for the all the other costs related to deputies engaging in widespread racial profiling of Latinos.

Cost thus far to taxpayers: $50 million. Of that, we've put out $2.3 million for his legal defense in the Melendres case.

Cost to Arpaio: nothing, that I can see.

Of course, Arpaio has admitted that he's in contempt of court for repeatedly thumbing his nose at the orders of the federal judge who ruled that Arpaio's deputies systematically violated the constitutional rights of Latinos in his traffic stops. Arpaio's hoping to keep the proceedings a civil matter.

If U.S. District Court Judge Murray Snow recommends criminal contempt charges, then Arpaio would have to pick up his own legal defense tab.

I can only surmise that Arpaio's expecting to be brought up on criminal charges.

Either that, or he just can't let a good fundraising opportunity go to rest.