ST JOHNS, Ariz. — Apache County Attorney Michael Whiting and two of his co-defendants appeared before a judge Thursday morning after a grand jury recently indicted them.
Whiting is accused of multiple counts of theft, misuse of public funds and harassing a political opponents.
According to the Arizona Attorney General's Office, Whiting, his aid Daryl Greer and Whiting's wife, Joyclynn, entered not guilty pleas.
The indictment accused Whiting of, among other things, threatening a political opponent of his wife, who is Apache County's school superintendent.
The indictment accuses Whiting of compiling information on Fernando Madrid, who was running for superintendent, and threatening to release it if Madrid did not drop out of the race. Madrid did pull his name from the election.
The AG's office also accuses both Whitings of buying items like gym equipment, cars and school spelling bee materials using county funds that were not authorized.
An attorney for Whiting said he had no comment on the arraignment Thursday afternoon.
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