APACHE COUNTY-Michael Whiting, Joyclynn ‘Joy’ Whiting, and Daryl Greer were released on no bail. They entered pleas in Apache County Superior Court on Thursday after a grand jury indicted them on multiple corruption-related charges.
A state grand jury indicted all three defendants on August 19, and today, they entered their not guilty pleas and their mugshots were taken.
The Whiting’s and Greer did not appear in person at the arraignment held on August 29 at 9:30 a.m. and the hearing was broadcast via Zoom in the Apache County Superior court room. The parties present on Zoom were the defendants and their attorneys, the state prosecutor, and the presiding Judge. Several Apache County Attorney’s Office employees were present in the Apache County court room.
Judge Daniel G Martin presided over the arraignment and the attorney for the state was Catherine Ferguson-Gilbert.
The Whiting’s and Greer were released from custody before their trial without posting bail and on their own recognizance (OR).
The Arizona Attorney General’s Office responded to Mountain Daily Star about allowing the three defendants to leave court with no bail required.
Richie Taylor with the AG’s Office replied, “No bail is a standard agreement in such cases.”
Gilbert asked for the cases to be separated and it was denied by Judge Martin.
Directions given by Judge Martin included all defendants can not leave Arizona and have no contact with each other.
The Arizona Attorney General’s Office has been providing oversight for the Apache County Attorney’s Office and the 90 day deadline is quickly approaching. Mountain Daily Star asked Taylor if the oversight would continue.
Taylor replied, ” As long as needed to ensure the office is functioning. We will likely extend another 90 days beginning September 5th.”
The pretrial date for the three defendants is September 26 at 9:30 a.m.