Mark Moran/KJZZ

Joe Arpaio

Sheriff Joe Arpaio has been spared prosecution on a contempt-of-court charge for refusing to hand over 50 hard drives from a secret investigation.

That eliminates one legal problem for Arpaio as he prepares to go to trial this spring on a separate contempt count.

A court ruling Tuesday says the statute of limitations bars a criminal contempt case against Arpaio for withholding the drives.