Ex‑State Treasurer fined, placed on probation

Staff reports

VALLEY – A Maricopa County judge on Monday sentenced former Arizona State Treasurer David Petersen to three years of supervised probation and fined him $4,500.

Peterson in October pleaded guilty to one count of knowingly filing a false or incomplete financial disclosure statement. He resigned his office on Nov. 30 as part of a plea agreement  with the state Attorney General’s Office.     

Maricopa County Superior Court Judge James Keppel handed down the sentence.

Authorities alleged Peterson failed to disclose 2005 income exceeding $1,000 that he earned from selling character training materials. They also accused him of failing to disclose his relationships with several nonprofit corporations with which he held an office or a fiduciary position. Those groups include the Arizona Communities of Character Council Inc., Arizona Council on Economic Education, and Area V Community Asset & Resource Enterprise Partnership, according to a news release from the AG’s office.The Attorney General’s Office began their investigation in February 2006 after employees raised questions about Petersen’s financial affairs.