The sheriff for a county whose population is predominantly Navajo is blaming his indictment on charges of misuse of funds for his support for Navajo people.

In addition to allegedly misusing $8,000, Apache County Sheriff Brian Hounshell is accused of being anti-Mormon and pro-Navajo. He denies being anti-Mormon -- "I'm Mormon, and my dad is a worker at the temple in Snowflake," he tells The Arizona Republic -- but admits he supports the Navajo people.

"Yes, I have obtained additional funding to provide new services on Navajo Land," he tells The White Mountain Independent. "This has caused jealousies and dissension among those who don't feel the Navajo people deserve equal law enforcement services from the Apache County Sheriff's Office."

Hounshell was re-elected sheriff by carrying more than 80 percent of the Navajo vote, according to The Republic. He also won a slight majority of the non-Indian vote, the paper said.

Apache County is 76.9 percent Native, according to the U.S. Census. Most are Navajos but the county includes the White Mountain Apache Tribe, the Hopi Tribe and the Zuni Tribe

Get the Story:
Apache County's sheriff calls his indictment political (The Arizona Republic 6/1)
Apache County Sheriff indicted on theft and fraud charges (The White Mountain Independent 5/27)