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Jayme Valenzuela
“Not guilty” was the plea of Superior Mayor Jayme Valenzuela as he was arraigned in Arizona Superior Court on August 4 on one count of theft (a class 5 felony) for using the town’s debit card on eight separate occasions to make personal withdrawals totaling $2,300 between August 2013 and December 2014.
Following the plea, the case was ordered to trial with the pretrial conference scheduled for September 20 at the same court at 175 W. Madison, Phoenix.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant Attorney General Sheila Madden. Valenzuela is reported to be represented by Attorney Gary A. Husk of Husk Law Partners, Phoenix.
Since the alleged wrongdoing came to light last December, citizens of Superior signed a petition to recall Valenzuela as mayor in a vote scheduled for August 30. When Valenzuela was indicted on the theft charge on July 8, he was terminated by the Pinal County Sheriff’s Office from his high-paid job as a commander in charge of contracts and supplies at the Pinal County Detention Center in Casa Grande.
If convicted of the charges, Valenzuela could face a maximum penalty to2 years 6 months in jail. However if the jury finds that Valenzuela’s refunding the $2,300 plus ATM transaction fees within a month after the transactions became public to be a mitigating factor, he could get off with as little as probation.
James J. Hodl is a career journalist who has worked for newspapers, magazines and trade journals. A graduate of Southern Illinois University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Journalism, Hodl began his career as a reporter with the Palatine (IL) Herald and the Morton Grove (IL) Review before becoming editor of the trade publication Appliance Service News. In recent years, Hodl has had articles published in Consumers Digest, Good Housekeeping, Home Remodeling, Kitchens & Baths and Salute; and has contributed to trade publications serving the home furnishings, restaurant and casino markets. A native of Chicago, Hodl relocated to San Tan Valley in 2013.
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