Christian Hart Weems Arrested In Chandler, Arizona, Accused Of Destroying Evidence In The Susan Brock Case; Fulton Brock Seeking Divorce

Update August 24th, 2011: Christian Hart Weems reluctantly pleaded guilty to one count of computer tampering in the sex-abuse case Susan Brock; in exchange, a second count against her was dismissed. Weems faces a punishment of up to three years supervised probation when sentenced October 7th; she remains free on bond.

Update December 30th: One of Susan Brock's daughters, 21-year-old Rachel Katherine Brock, is now accused of sending dirty pictures and videos and having several sexual encounters with the same teenage boy her mother is accused of molesting. She is being charged with three counts of sexual conduct with a minor and one count of transmitting obscene material. All previous posts on this case available HERE, with the most recent post appearing first.


The case of Susan Brock, the now-estranged wife of Maricopa County Supervisor Fulton Brock, took another turn on December 28th, 2010 when a 37-year-old Chandler woman who was a friend of Brock's was arrested. Christian Hart Weems was arrested for conspiracy to commit computer tampering or altering of data, computer tampering or altering of data, hindering prosecution, and tampering with physical evidence, all felonies; she is accused of destroying and altering evidence in the personal email account of the boy Susan Brock has been charged with molesting over a three-year period. Although Weems was initially booked into the Maricopa County Jail in Phoenix, the Phoenix New Times reports that she has since been released on her own recognizance, and is due back in court on January 12th. It has now been confirmed that, like Susan Brock, Christian Weems is also a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

The scheme: Court documents show that Brock and the boy communicated through the Yahoo email account. The boy would write in a draft the time she should pick him around the corner of his house. Brock, who had the boy's password, would log in and read the drafts. As a result, there was no record of messages being sent and the boy's parents would not find out. Not only did the boy's parents forbid Susan Brock to have contact with him, but the boy's high school principal also had warned Brock to stay off of school grounds.

The obstruction: During a jailhouse phone call on November 2nd, it is alleged that Weems coaxed Brock into revealing the password to the Yahoo email account. Once in there, Weems allegedly altered, damaged or destroyed potential evidence that would have incriminated Susan Brock.

A new story in the Arizona Republic gives more details about Christian Weems' background. Weems has a track record of being an outspoken Chandler activist who made eloquent public speeches about neighborhood issues, volunteered for municipal boards and campaigned for mayor and city council candidates. She is a land developer and former member of the Chandler Domestic Violence Commission and Chandler Solid Waste Citizens Advisory Committee. She has campaigned for Councilman Matt Orlando. She also campaigned for former Councilman Phill Westbrooks when he ran unsuccessfully for mayor in 2006 and to restore elected official's pay for former Councilman Martin Sepulveda when he was called to active military duty.

As summarized in my October 27th post, Susan Brock is accused of picking the unidentified boy up from his home or school, and committing as many as 30 sexual acts in her car, her home, her mother's home and secluded areas of the city. The acts included masturbatory conduct and oral sex; in other instances, Brock allegedly used three vibrating massagers to stimulate the boy's penis to the point of ejaculation. No actual intercourse took place. However, Susan Brock now faces 15 different charges; according to case number S-0700-CR-2010157285 listed in the Arizona Judicial Branch records, they include:

-- Two counts Molestation of Child
-- Six counts Sexual Conduct with Minor
-- Two counts Sexual Exploitation of Minor
-- Three counts Obscene Material-Furnish to Minors
-- Two counts Public Sexual Indecency

Susan Brock has pleaded not guilty to all charges. Until the matter is resolved, her LDS Church membership will likely remain intact.

However, Brock's estranged husband apparently doubts her innocence. On November 11th, Fulton Brock announced he was seeking a divorce from Susan. He seeks sole custody of the couple's minor daughter, age 16. He lists as assets three homes with a combined value of more than $1 million and three cars. Brock had previously said, "I want so much to believe these allegations are not true, but if they are, I am appalled and crushed. I am a religious man. I ask all to pray for our family and those involved so that justice may best be served."

Susan Brock's indiscretions may even impact Fulton Brock's political career. The Maricopa County Board of Supervisors will soon choose a new chairman, Fulton Brock is in line to succeed Supervisor Don Stapley in the leadership post. However, there are hints that misgivings by some supervisors about Brock’s recent family problems may threaten his ascension. If he can line up the votes, Brock would take over as chairman in January. But an informal poll of supervisors by The Arizona Republic indicates his election is still likely.

Since this post, Fulton Brock has decided to withdraw his name from consideration to become chairman.