Ariz. sheriff office accused of misspending $99M (Arpaio)

[cali]

Apr 13, 7:21 PM EDT


By JACQUES BILLEAUD
Associated Press


PHOENIX (AP) -- An examination in Arizona's Maricopa County has found that the sheriff's office, widely known for efforts against illegal immigrants, inappropriately spent $99 million from two jail funds over the last eight years to pay for other law enforcement operations - including immigration patrols.

The $99 million figure released Wednesday is an update to an estimate made in September by budget officials who said the sheriff's office was believed to have used $60 million and $80 million over four or five years from a jail tax on other purposes. Since then, officials said they discovered that the sheriff's office had inappropriately spent money from a second jail account.

Maricopa County officials also said that Arpaio's office had spent the money on unsuccessful criminal cases brought against two county officials and a judge.

"This is really a disaster for the county," said County Supervisor Mary Rose Wilcox, who along with another colleague faced criminal charges in cases that were investigated by Arpaio's office and eventually dismissed.

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http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_SHERIFF_JAIL_FUNDS?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2011-04-13-17-50-47

[bluestate10]

1. When Joe goes down, I wonder whether he will perp walk in his own handcuffs. nt

[Angry Dragon]

2. He might get to wear those pink panties he so loves.........

[TheCowsCameHome]

3. ...on his stupid head.

[SheilaT]

4. Why am I not surprised.

[SpiralHawk]

5. ...because Republicon Family Pharisee Values are always stanky

up the corrupt old wazoooooo.

[Unrepentant Fenian]

6. I hope that Arpaio ends up wearing pink boxers in a hot tent nt

[marmar]

7. Come on now. He spent it on a festival for his community.....

[Brigid]

8. Why is it that for years now . . .

every time I hear of a Sheriff someplace doing something crazy, it turns out to be "Crazy Joe" of Maricopa County, AZ? More to the point, why is it that the people there keep re-electing him?

[lunasun]

9. AZ seems to have repalced TX as home of the truly brainless and heartless folk

[lonestarnot]

10. It's only fucking illegal and worth a perp walk in AZ when dems do his tricks.