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Former proseuctor Lisa Aubuchon and her husband, Peter Pestalozzi, owe $40,721 in federal taxes, records show.
The federal tax lien listed on the Maricopa County Recorder’s website includes $3,388 in unpaid taxes for 2009 and $37,332 for 2010.
Aubuchon, who was disbarred on April 10 along with her former County Attorney boss, Andrew Thomas, was fired from her job as deputy county attorney in late 2010.
In a text message sent to New Times, Aubuchon states that “the tax debt was due to me being forced to cash out my retirement.”
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Aubuchon filed a $10 million notice of claim Aubuchon filed against the county in mid-2010 that alludes to her loss of earnings. She was demoted in May 2010, hit with a “pre-termination” letter that September and subsequently was fired.
Her claim turned into a federal lawsuit that was consolidated with other officials suing the county, including County Supervisors Mary Rose Wilcox and Don Stapley.
U.S. District Judge Neil Wake ruled last month in that lawsuit that Aubuchon and Thomas didn’t enjoy absolute immunity for their actions in filing their infamous (and, ultimately, failed) federal racketeering civil suit with Sheriff Joe Arpaio against county officials, judges and private lawyers.
On Friday, Aubuchon and Thomas filed appeals of Wake’s April order. They also hope to persuade Judge Wake to delay any proceedings on the lawsuit until the appeal of Wake’s order is settled.
She’s being represented in the appeal of Wake’s order by Scottsdale lawyers James Mueller and Douglas Drury.
Aubuchon is also appealing the disbarment order, which becomes effective on May 10.
