State Mine Inspector Douglas K. Martin has been indicted on charges of theft, fraud and procurement code fraud in the acquisition of new vehicles for his office, Attorney General Terry Goddard announced Thursday.
The indictment accuses Martin of illegally buying four vehicles, including a truck with “luxury options,” for his state office in violation of requirements that the office acquire its vehicles either from federal agencies or through the state Department of Administration, Goddard said in a statement.
According to the indictment, Martin falsely told a dealer he could obtain the vehicles through lease-purchase agreements and “deceived” the state into making payments for them by certifying that the expenditures complied with state laws and regulations, Goddard said.
Martin did not immediately return a call for comment on the charges, which Goddard said stemmed from an investigation by Goddard’s office.
Goddard said Martin is scheduled to appear in Maricopa County Superior Court on Dec. 27 and that he could face 15 years in prison if convicted of all nine counts of the three alleged crimes.
