Don Stapley

Steve Chucri, Denny Barney are Expected New Faces in Maricopa County Supervisors' Races

Changes are coming to the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors, a governing panel that has become better known in the last few years due to some serious scandals. The five-member Board currently consists of Republicans Don Stapley, Fulton Brock, Andy Kunasek and Max Wilson, and Democrat Mary Rose W ... More >>

Don Stapley Withdraws Name from Congressional Race; Longtime Maricopa County Supervisor Will Pursue Other Options When Term Ends

Maricopa County Supervisor Don Stapley announced today that he won't be running for Congress, after all.Stapley, who has seen his share of ups and downs in his 15-year run on the five-member Board of Supervisors, filed paperwork last month to run for Arizona's newly created Ninth Congressional Distr ... More >>

Don Stapley, Maricopa County Supervisor Who's Suing County, Files to Run for Congress in New CD9 District

​Maricopa County Supervisor Don Stapley has filed with the Federal Election Commission to run for Congress in the newly created CD9 District.The County Supervisor has served as one of five members of the Board of Supervisors since 1996, and is currently suing the county for $15 million due to his ... More >>

Steve Chucri Announces Bid for Don Stapley's Seat on Maricopa County Board of Supervisors; Chucri is CEO for AZ Restaurant Association

Image: Arizona Tourism AllianceSteve Chucri, former staffer for ex-Congressman Matt Salmon and current president and CEO of the Arizona Restaurant Association, plans to run against Don Stapley for the District 2 seat on the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors.​Steve Chucri, CEO of the Arizona Res ... More >>

Arpaio Tries to Change His Story on Don Stapley's 2010 Arrest; Now Claims He Didn't Order Arrest, But Last Year Said He Did

Photo Illustration: New TimesSheriff Joe Arpaio told the Arizona Republic in 2010 that he made the decision to arrest Don Stapley. Now, after Gila County Daisy Flores called the arrest was "vindictive," he claims he didn't. ​ Trying to deflect the blame for the decisions he made isn't working ... More >>

Don Stapley Case Dropped by Gila County Prosecutor; Thomas and Aubuchon "Abdicated" Roles as Fair Prosecutors

  Don Stapley, county supervisor, is no longer under the threat of criminal prosecution.​Maricopa County Supervisor has escaped a second criminal case levelled at him by Sheriff Joe Arpaio and former County Attorney Andrew Thomas. Gila County Attorney Daisy Flores has decided not to&nb ... More >>

Don Stapley Wins Victory in 2008 Criminal Case; Appeals Court Rules Supervisor had No Financial Disclosure Requirement

Maricopa County Supervisor Don Stapley won his 2008 criminal case today in the state Court of Appeals.​ The Arizona Court of Appeals has agreed that Maricopa County Supervisor Don Stapley did not violate any financial disclosure law, ending a tainted criminal case against him. The ruling today ... More >>

Scott Bundgaard's Lawyer, Mark Goldman, is Same Guy Accused of Helping Lisa Aubuchon Screw Over Don Stapley

Scott Bundgaard's now dancing with Mark Goldman, a former deputy county attorney who may have helped Lisa Aubuchon and Andrew Thomas retaliate against Maricopa County Supervisor Don Stapley.​ Local lawyer Mark Goldman's alleged actions in the investigation of Maricopa County Supervisor Don Sta ... More >>

Mary Rose Wilcox Case: "Utter Lack of Motive or Evidence" of Crimes, Gila County Attorney Concludes

Daisy Flores: Charges aren't warranted against Maricopa County Supervisor Mary Rose Wilcox​ Mary Rose Wilcox, one of five members of the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors, didn't disclose her business interests to the public like she should have, that much is clear. But multiple felonies? ... More >>

Lawsuits by County Officials Vs. County Move to Federal Court

  Image: Ray Stern Maricopa County Supervisors Don Stapley and Mary Rose Wilcox.​A $10 million lawsuit filed by Maricopa County Supervisor Don Stapley last Thursday against the county will likely end up in federal court. Lawsuits alleging abuse of power, defamation, civil right ... More >>

Lawyer Mark Goldman May Have Helped Launch Retaliatory Case Against County Supervisor Don Stapley, Report Says

Mark Goldman, of the law firm Wilenchik & Bartness, "likely" inititated a retaliatory criminal investigation against County Supervisor Don Stapley, if Lisa Aubuchon didn't, says an investigative report ​ Andrew Thomas, Lisa Aubuchon and Rachel Alexander, all late of the Maricopa County Attorne ... More >>

Don Stapley Awaits AZ Court of Appeals Decision in First Criminal Case; County Supervisor Files Amended Claim Vs. County

Don Stapley​ Maricopa County Supervisor Don Stapley filed an amended claim against the county for wrongful prosecution last week while waiting for a decision by the state Court of Appeals on his 2008 criminal prosecution. Oral arguments in what's known as Stapley One (on account of there bein ... More >>

Susan Schuerman, Don Stapley's Secretary, Files Notice of Claim

Susan Schuerman​Susan Schuerman, a 23-year employee of Maricopa County and secretary to Supervisor Don Stapley, has filed a notice of claim with the county, the first step to a lawsuit against Sheriff Joe Arpaio and former County Attorney Andrew Thomas.The claim, filed by attorney Michael Ma ... More >>

Conley Wolfswinkel, Smeared by Andrew Thomas in Stapley Investigation, Files Notice of Claim with Maricopa County

Andrew Thomas' attempts to humiliate an East Valley developer could cost taxpayers $10 million. ​Saying that Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio and former County Attorney Andrew Thomas illegally searched their offices and otherwise targeted them in an attempt to "retaliate against and humili ... More >>

Don Stapley Solicits for More Legal Defense Funds; Alleged Crimes of County Supervisor Still Being Reviewed

  ​ It may seem like Don Stapley's troubles are about over, but Stapley sure doesn't think so. The embattled chairman of the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors mailed a new fundraising letter two weeks ago to his friends and acquaintances, begging for big bucks to counter  ... More >>

Sheriff Joe Arpaio and County Attorney Andrew Thomas Get Pilloried by Don Stapley

Don Stapley Claim Vs. County Could be Settled by Board of Supervisors; County Leaders Mum on Possibility

  Image: Ray Stern It seems likely that Supervisor Mary Rose Wilcox, (seen here with husband, Earl, and attorney Colin Campbell), will file a claim against the county like Don Stapley did last week. ​ The malicious prosecution claim filed against Maricopa County by Don St ... More >>

Joe Arpaio Protesters Get Audience with Supervisors Don Stapley and Mary Rose Wilcox to Push for Reforms

MCSA's Randy Parraz called for change -- and finally got longer than two minutes to make his case.​For the last two years, Maricopa Citizens for Safety and Accountability have been on the outside looking in: The anti-Arpaio activists in the MCSA have been hassled, cut off, and even arre ... More >>

Don Stapley, Mary Rose Wilcox to Meet With Citizens' Group Tomorrow in Supervisors' Auditorium

Randy Parraz​Critics of Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio will have the chance to air their grievances tomorrow before County Supervisors Don Stapley and Mary Rose Wilcox.Stapley and Wilcox, still fresh from their recent victories over attempts by Arpaio and County Attorney Andrew Thomas to ... More >>

Don Stapley Sues Maricopa County, Sheriff Joe Arpaio, and County Attorney Andrew Thomas

  ​Maricopa County Supervisor Don Stapley filed a precursor to a lawsuit today against the county and various elected officials -- including himself -- for alleged malicious prosecution and other grievances. He wants $5 million for his troubles. The notice of claim was fil ... More >>

Judge John Leonardo Refuses to Dismiss Stapley Charges "With Prejudice" -- Case Now Goes to Special Prosecutor

Don Stapley​ Two weeks ago, Pima County Superior Court Judge John Leonardo issued a scathing ruling against Maricopa County Attorney Andrew Thomas -- kicking him off the prosecution of County Supervisor Mary Rose Wilcox and dismissing the charges against Wilcox to boot.That decision was a co ... More >>

County Supervisors Officially Approve Financial Disclosure Policy

  The county's failure to properly mandate the forms back in 1984 became an issue when Don Stapley (above) was indicted.​More than 20 years after they first intended to do so, the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors finally approved a resolution today that will compel county offi ... More >>

Stapley and Wilcox Indicted; Thomas and Arpaio Launch Fresh Attack on Eve of Judge's Ruling on Special Prosecutors

  ​Maricopa County Supervisors Don Stapley and Mary Rose Wilcox (left) have been served with indictments this morning that accuse them of committing a long list of crimes. Stapley's been indicted on 27 felony and misdemeanor accounts. You're familiar with these accusations ... More >>

Don Stapley to Become Chair of Board of Supervisors in January; Criminal Case is on Appeal

It's been quite a year of ups and downs for Don Stapley, one of five members of the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors. He started 2009 under the burden of 118 criminal counts. In September, the charges were dismissed because of a technicality that is now being appealed. Three days after ... More >>

Racketeering Lawsuit Against County by Thomas and Arpaio is Weak Conspiracy Theory

The first reason why the racketeering lawsuit filed today against county leaders is probably going nowhere: It's being handled by Lisa Aubuchon, the deputy county attorney who has consistently blown politically sensitive cases for Maricopa County Attorney Andrew Thomas. Under Aubuchon's leadership, ... More >>

Serving Up Stapley: Why’s the Don Stapley Prosecution a Big Joke? Because the Accusers Are Far Shadier Than the Accused

Stapley Resisted Handcuffing (Mildly), Say Deputies; Reports Don't Back Up Chief Deputy's Claim of Attempted Interference

​ Maricopa County Supervisor Don Stapley didn't order anyone to interfere with his September 21 arrest in a county parking garage -- and that's according to the deputies who arrested him. If you'll recall, Chief Deputy Dave Hendershott told us a couple of days after the arrest that Staple ... More >>

Joe Arpaio and Andrew Thomas: They're All About the Perp Walk

Joe Arpaio's 287(g) Stalled: Board of Supervisors Says It'll Sign After Feds Sign

courtesy of Dennis Gilman/HumanLeague002 Supervisor Don Stapley, who backed Wilcox's move to table the sheriff's new MOA today The Maricopa County Board of Supervisors passed the buck back to the feds on Sheriff Joe's new 287(g) jails agreement this morning, authorizing Supes Chair Max Wilson ... More >>

Don Stapley Victory: Prosecutor Drops Remaining Criminal Charges

  ​Don Stapley won. Andrew Thomas and Joe Arpaio lost. The Maricopa County Supervisor has been under a legal black cloud since December, when County Attorney Thomas slammed him with 118 felony counts of violating campaign finance law. But Thomas tossed the case to Yavapai Count ... More >>

Lawyer for Don Stapley Says County Attorney's Office, Not Stapley, Failed to Ensure County Adopted Campaign Finance Laws

Paul Charlton​ Paul Charlton, former U.S. Attorney in Arizona and lawyer for indicted County Supervisor Don Stapley, says Andrew Thomas has only one person to blame -- himself -- for the embarrassing dismissal of 51 of 117 criminal counts against Stapley. As our follow-up post last night& ... More >>

Don Stapley Case Update: 51 of 118 Criminal Counts Dismissed on Technicality

  ​It's 51 down, 67 criminal counts to go for Maricopa County Supervisor Don Stapley. The county leader under investigation and indictment for failure to follow campaign finance disclosure laws convinced Superior Court Judge Kenneth Fields to dismiss nearly half the counts on a tech ... More >>

Thomas Ticked That Stapley Benefits in Criminal Case From Law He Failed to Properly Pass

​ It was a given that Maricopa County Attorney Andrew Thomas was going to be miffed by the recent ruling on Don Stapley's case by Superior Court Judge Kenneth Fields. Thomas has been saying for months that Fields is biased against him and he tried to get the judge kicked off the case. Fields ... More >>

Don Stapley Lawyers: Dozens of Public Officials Erred in Financial Disclosure Reporting, Including One Sheriff

Don Stapley​We knew it!We've long been of the opinion that the disclosure forms mandated by the Arizona Secretary of State for public officials are confusing as hell. Every time we read these things, in fact, we find ourselves wondering how the doltish pols we typically deal with are able to sort ... More >>

County Wants Lisa Aubuchon, Prosecutor in Don Stapley Case, Held Personally Liable for Release of Sealed Deposition

  The public feud between the county Board of Supervisors and the county attorney's office is getting more personal. Lawyers hired by the county supervisors want Lisa Aubuchon, the prosecutor in the criminal case against County Supervisor Don Stapley, held personally liable if a judge orde ... More >>

Don Stapley's County Office Searched by Deputies

Deputies served a search warrant on Thursday at the county office of Don Stapley, a county supervisor who stands accused of numerous counts of felony campaign-paperwork violations. The search was the latest in connection with the questionable investigation of Stapley by Maricopa County Sheriff ... More >>

It's Time to Kick Andrew Thomas Off the Stapley Investigation

Hot Links: Investigators Search Gilbert Business in Stapley Case; NBA to Assist Valley's Needy; Coconino County to Charge $20 to Fight Speed Camera Ticket

Sheriff's investigators search a Gilbert business for evidence that County Supervisor Don Stapley made an improper deal to create a special tax district for land his buddy owned. At least copper theft will be on the decline: The metal scrap industry expects a miserable year as export demands fr ... More >>

Stapley Case Bombshell: Indicted Supervisor Disclosed Wolfswinkel Partnership to County Attorney in 2006

  Maricopa County Supervisor Don Stapley faces 118 criminal counts for supposedly failing to disclose his land holdings to the public -- in particular, his association with convicted felon Conley Wolfswinkel. But according to an explosive new filing from Stapley's attorneys, Stapley ... More >>

Conley Wolfwinkel's Office Raided by Sheriff's Office as Part of Don Stapley Case

The Tempe offices of companies linked to Conley Wolfswinkel, a developer with a history of questionable land deals, were searched today by deputies as part of the criminal case against County Supervisor Don Stapley. The East Valley Tribune has a story about the raid, which apparently happened ... More >>

Before Don Stapley’s Indictment, There Was the Land Deal

Stapley's the One Facing 118 Criminal Counts, but Sheriff Joe Arpaio's Got Financial Disclosure Problems of His Own

  Maricopa County Supervisor Don Stapley now faces118 criminal counts of failing to properly disclose his real estate dealings on public disclosure forms -- but Stapley apparently isn't the only guy who forgot to disclose all his real estate transactions. A New Times investigati ... More >>

Four MCSA Demonstrators Arrested Outside County Board of Supervisors Meeting, Dressed as Pets

A chicken (activist Chris Fleischman) is interrogated by plainclothes po-po.According to witnesses and a spokesperson for the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors, four members of Maricopa Citizens for Safety and Accountability, an activist group critical of the BOS and Sheriff Joe Arpaio, were arre ... More >>

Hot Links: Cops Arrest Four Following Hate Crime Attacks; Suns Trades Upset Nash; Cops to Enforce License Plate Cover Law

Never trust a guy who's got a swastika tattooed on his forehead: Phoenix cops arrest four suspected white supremacists after two hate crime attacks. Steve Nash says he's "emotionally drained" following the Suns' trade of Raja Bell and Boris Diaw for Jason Richardson of the Charlotte Bobcats. ... More >>

Don Stapley’s Biggest Crime Was Failing to Hide His Real Estate Dealings as Well as Sheriff Joe Arpaio Did

Hot Links: Sheriff's Captain Fined $315,000 in Campaign Scandal; Don Stapley Booked; Nude E-mailed Photos Popular

County news doesn't get more interesting: Maricopa County Sheriff's Captain Joel Fox is fined $315,000 for a dirty donation made to the Republican Party. Maricopa County Supervisor Don Stapley is booked and released on suspicion of failing to disclose some real estate transactions on his campaign ... More >>

Don Stapley's Videoed Statements to Deputies to be Released

The Maricopa County Attorney's Office is preparing to release a video interview by sheriff's deputies of Don Stapley, who was indicted this week on multiple counts of failing to disclose financial transactions on campaign forms. Michael Scerbo, spokesman for county attorney Andrew T ... More >>

Maricopa County Supervisor Don Stapley Indicted on 118 Counts

In an apparent followup to newspaper stories from the early 2000s, Maricopa County finally took action against shady county supervisor Don Stapley. A grand jury has  indicted Stapley on 118 criminal counts, alleging he failed to publicly disclose land deals and other bus ... More >>

Educating Don

Despite repeated ethical lapses, Department of Real Estate exempts supervisor Stapley from minimum education requirements

Stapley Manner

County Supervisor Don Stapley made a killing on a shady development and sank the profits into a mansion. Then he told the tax assessor to value his estate at $863,000 -- while listing it for sale at $2.5 million.