The Maricopa County Sheriff's Office confirmed information it apparently gave Channel 15 (KNXV-TV) earlier today about wanting Don Stapley charged with 93 felonies and seven misdemeanors.
In a likely nod to suspicions about the timing of Stapley's arrest on new charges so soon after his old ones were dismissed, Sheriff Joe Arpaio stated in a news release that an eight-month investigation into Stapley had just wrapped up "days ago, on September 11. After a brief supervisory review of the investigation, deputies were able to locate Stapley and arrest him." Whatever. We still think the timing is more than a coincidence -- it smacks of political theater. When arrested in a county parking garage at about 9:30 a.m. this morning, Stapley "appeared agitated and said to deputies, 'You've got to be kidding me.'"
The release goes on to say:
The 93 felony allegations against Stapley are all for fraudulent schemes involving his mortgage and loan businesses, campaign account fraud, tax return fraud and campaign fraud which allege Stapley used campaign funds to pay personal bills and pad personal accounts.
Stapley is still in jail awaiting his arraignment.
