Apache County attorney, school superintendent accused of misusing taxpayer money

APACHE COUNTY, AZ (AZFamily) — Apache County leaders still haven’t responded to the indictments against two elected officials: the county attorney and school superintendent.

County attorney Michael Whiting and his wife, Joy, the school superintendent, along with a third county employee, are accused of misusing public money and threatening a political opponent. Michael and Joy continue to run for re-election unopposed.

It’s been nearly three months since investigators with the state attorney general’s office searched Whiting’s home and office.

It appears to have started with a reported assault. A then-political opponent of Joy’s came forward, saying he’d been threatened and harassed by two men. We later learned those men worked for Michael. That political opponent, Fernando Madrid, reported the assault to the police, who forwarded the case to the state attorney general’s office.

For 16 years, Michael has been county attorney, the face of law enforcement in Apache County. Joy more recently became the school superintendent. Their behavior over the last two years is the subject of this ten-count indictment.

Michael and his chief investigator, Daryl Greer, are accused of sending over 190 pages of an anonymous letter threatening legal action against Madrid. Investigators reportedly determined that the shipping for the letter and package was paid for by a credit card in Michael Whiting’s name.

Madrid withdrew from the race, citing those threats from Whiting.

There’s also the purchase of a 2023 Ford Expedition for nearly $80,000, used by Michael and paid for with Apache County superintendent funds, according to the indictment.

Michael is also accused of helping his wife by spending $5,500 in County Attorney funds on shirts and bags.

“It’s entirely inappropriate. I mean, it’s entirely inappropriate,” said former federal prosecutor Seth Goertz.

According to the indictment, Greer used an Apache County credit card three separate times to buy fitness equipment worth more than $10,000, all of which was delivered to the county attorney’s office.

Michael is also accused of using another $10,000 in pending forfeiture money to upgrade an office car.

Arizona’s Family Investigates asked Goertz if he’s ever seen a county attorney charged in an indictment like this.

“You know it’s certainly not the norm. It’s not what you’d expect or hope. It’s certainly significant,” he responded.

Michael didn’t respond to our latest text and email but denied any wrongdoing in an earlier exchange.

“In regards to surveillance, I never have, or asked anyone to surveil anyone’s house from the office,” he wrote. “As to campaign items, the office or myself do not purchase such with public funds... I and our office are dedicated to transparency,” he continued.

“This is how this should work. It will now be presented to a jury,” Goertz said.

Arizona’s Family Investigates contacted several county officials: the county manager, the board of supervisors, the county attorney’s office and the school superintendent’s office. None have responded.

Before the indictment came out on Monday, the board voted to cover some of Whiting’s legal costs related to a bar complaint.

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