Pinal legal fees near $150,000 in sheriff probes
Web Producer: Laura Kittell
PHOENIX (AP) - Pinal County taxpayers are on the hook for nearly $150,000 in legal fees related to three separate inquiries of Sheriff Paul Babeu or his staff.
The county hired outside lawyers to help its in-house counsel respond to the investigations and numerous public records requests asking for documents related to the probes.
The U.S. Office of Special Counsel is investigating possible violations by Babeu and his top aides of the Hatch Act. That federal law makes it illegal for certain government workers to participate in political activities.
The state solicitor general is also looking into abuse-of-power allegations made against the sheriff by a former boyfriend.
An Arizona Republic report (http://bit.ly/MMv1TL) says a third inquiry looking at whether one of Babeu's top aides destroyed public records ended last month without charges.
(Copyright 2012 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)
This site uses Facebook comments to make it easier for you to contribute. If you see a comment you would like to flag for spam or abuse, click the "x" in the upper right of it. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use.