In a shocking turn of events, Attorney General Kris Mayes announced today that a State Grand Jury has returned a series of indictments against key figures within the Apache County Attorney’s Office. The indictments are the result of an extensive public corruption investigation that has uncovered a web of misconduct, misuse of public funds, and other serious violations of the law.
The Indicted Officials:
- Michael Whiting, Apache County Attorney: Whiting has been hit with several felony and misdemeanor charges, including harassment, theft, misuse of public monies, conflict of interest, sending a threatening or anonymous letter, and the destruction, alteration, or secretion of public records.
- Joyclynn Whiting, Apache County School Superintendent: Joyclynn, who is also Michael Whiting’s spouse, faces one felony count of misuse of public monies and another felony count of conflict of interest. The charges allege she was involved in the illegal use of funds for personal and unauthorized purposes.
- Daryl Greer, Whiting’s Aide: Greer has been indicted on two misdemeanor and two felony counts, including harassment, misuse of public monies, and sending a threatening or anonymous letter. Greer is accused of carrying out orders directly from Michael Whiting, contributing to the broader scheme of corruption.
Details of the Allegations:
According to the indictments, Michael Whiting’s misconduct includes the unauthorized withdrawal of funds from the National Bank of Arizona ACCENT Pending Forfeiture account. In one instance, Whiting allegedly used $9,999.00 from this account to purchase a 2022 Toyota Camry from Hatch Toyota, without proper authorization. Furthermore, the funds used for these transactions had not been adjudicated, meaning they were still pending court approval and should have remained untouched.
Joyclynn Whiting, as the head of the Apache County School Superintendent’s office, is accused of approving the use of public funds to purchase a 2023 Ford Expedition. The vehicle was later assigned to the Apache County Attorney’s Office and primarily used by Michael Whiting, raising serious questions about conflict of interest and misuse of public monies.
Greer, who played a significant role in executing Whiting’s orders, is alleged to have used county funds to purchase fitness equipment for personal use, further entangling himself in the corruption scandal. The indictment states that Greer placed multiple unauthorized orders, totaling over $7,000, using county credit cards.
Attorney General Kris Mayes did not mince words when addressing the gravity of the situation. “Public officials are entrusted with the responsibility to serve their communities with integrity and honesty. When that trust is violated, it undermines public confidence in the workings of government. These are serious allegations, and my office is committed to ensuring a thorough and fair legal process as we pursue justice for the people of Apache County,” Mayes stated.
