Supervisor Wilcox demands $4.75M for Arpaio action
Maricopa County Supervisor Mary Rose Wilcox has joined the parade of those suing the county government and Sheriff Joe Arpaio over his investigations.
Wilcox filed a notice of claim with the county saying she’ll sue the county and Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office if doesn’t get a $4.75 million settlement.
Arpaio, former County Attorney Andrew Thomas, the county government and Deputy Sheriff’s Chief David Hendershott are named in the action. State law requires those suing the government to give the entity a chance to settle the case before a suit is filed.
Wilcox and her husband and business partner, Earl Wilcox, claim Arpaio and Thomas prosecuted them unfairly and sought to intimidate the couple. Wilcox opposes Arpaio’s immigration enforcement tactics.
Thomas and Arpaio secured indictments against the Wilcoxes last year claiming she failed to adequately disclose business loans on her county filings. They also said Wilcox should have recused herself from votes related to a Hispanic nonprofit she received the loans from. The Wilcoxes own restaurants including one at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport.
The indictments were either tossed or dropped, but are being looked at by a special counsel to see if they should be refiled.
Arpaio said last year his office was investigating Wilcox for criminal activity. Wilcox denies wrongdoing.
Wilcox joins County Board Chairman Don Stapley, real estate developer Conley Wolfswinkel, Maricopa County Superior Court Judge Gary Donahoe and former County Schools Superintendent Sandra Dowling suing Arpaio for alleged unfair investigation and prosecutions.
The sheriff’s office did not respond to a request for comment.
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