Arizona Public Radio | Your Source for NPR News
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

Apache County Attorney Michael Whiting removed from office

Apache County Attorney Michael Whiting speaks to reporters outside the courthouse in St. Johns, Ariz. in 2009.
Felicia Fonseca
/
AP Photo
Apache County Attorney Michael Whiting speaks to reporters outside the courthouse in St. Johns, Ariz. in 2009.

The Apache County Board of Supervisors voted Thursday to remove County Attorney Michael Whiting from office and stop paying his salary.

The decision went into effect Friday along with the suspension of his law license as a series of corruption charges against him play out in court.

Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes told the supervisors she would take control of the office since the law prohibits anyone from serving in the position without a license in good standing.

A grand jury has indicted Apache County Attorney Michael Whiting and School Superintendent Joy Whiting on public corruption charges. The husband and wife are both accused of improperly using their offices and public funds for political and personal gain.

Whiting and his wife, County School Superintendent Joy Whiting, were indicted in August on a range of public corruption charges, including misuse of public funds. They've pleaded not guilty.

Both are technically running unopposed in the upcoming election. However, two former county officials have launched a challenge against Michael Whiting as write-in candidates.