The Arizona Attorney General's Office publicly declared on August 20 that Apache County Attorney Michael Whiting faces multiple indictments brought by a state grand jury, including serious charges for harassment, theft, misuse of public funds, and tampering with public records. These allegations come to light as detailed by FOX 10 Phoenix with the indictment also implicating both Whiting's aide, Daryl Greer, and his wife, Joyclynn Whiting, the county's School Superintendent.
According to the indictment, Greer supposedly harassed a man by photographing his vehicle, and Whiting allegedly made requests for the personal information of an opponent's family, their dubious actions peaking in an incident involving the physical altercation over a petition. In an almost drama-like unfolding, as noted by FOX 10 Phoenix, these occurrences ultimately led the man to withdraw his candidacy for the school superintendent role due to "coercive tactics."
Financial impropriety is at the core of some of the other charges, with Whiting allegedly authorizing payments that resulted in a surplus amounting to a personal benefit, as well as Greer accused of unauthorized purchases amounting to thousands in fitness equipment. The funds spent were to create credits used for personal gain, as described in the attorney general's office statement. Additionally, misuse of a county credit card and questionable vehicular trades paint a broader picture of fiscal malfeasance. These transactions, according to FOX 10 Phoenix, lacked the necessary legal adjudication.
"Public officials are entrusted with the responsibility to serve their communities with integrity and honesty," said Attorney General Kris Mayes, recognizing the gravity of the situation and the impact such allegations have on public trust. Whiting's alleged misdeeds, extend into a perceived misuse of authority to suppress political competition for his wife, with Arizona's Family reporting tampering evidence and threats made against a candidate running against Joyclynn Whiting.
The saga continues with Apache County's Board of Supervisors recently voting to pay for Whiting's legal defense against a State Bar complaint. With the indictment pressing forward, both Michael and Joy Whiting have not publicly commented on the charges against them, meanwhile, they both stand unopposed in their upcoming re-election bids in November.
