Hounshell fires back at White
Sheriff says county supervisor exaggerated severity of crime

By Kathy Helms
Diné Bureau

WINDOW ROCK — Saying "people who live in glass houses shouldn't throw stones," Apache County Sheriff Brian Hounshell condemned a report released Wednesday by Supervisor Tom White Jr. regarding the sheriff's top aide.

According to the report published in The Independent, Hugh Lynch, one of Hounshell's top aides, entered a plea agreement Wednesday in Maricopa County Superior Court, saying he made a false statement regarding a trip to Phoenix to purchase a truck for himself. Lynch said the truck actually was for Hounshell's son.

Hounshell said he was "saddened to hear that my friend and employee, Hugh Lynch, was placed in this position. The article implies that it was an agreement to a felony perjury. It was a misdemeanor plea."

"Mr. Tom White eagerly forwarded a press release to the paper, as if a great victory had been achieved," Hounshell said, but added that his office has come to expect such actions from White.

Last year, when the Arizona Counties Insurance Pool and County Manager Delwin Wengert said they wanted to remove all Sheriff's Office personnel from the Navajo Nation, "Mr. White all too easily agreed," Hounshell said.

"It was only when Supervisor Jim Claw and the residents of Northern Apache County strongly objected, that White changed his story. Mr. White has probably had more employee problems than any other elected official in Apache County," the sheriff said.

White also alleged that county resources were used to pay for an elk hunt scouting trip, "yet no evidence to support this was ever presented, unlike the numerous employee complaints presented to the county about Mr. White," Hounshell said.

"This attempt by Mr. White to build himself up at the expense of others is nothing new. I know the citizens of this county remember that Mr. White voted with the south county power base to remove me from office, an action that was ultimately overturned by Judge Fields and has since been appealed by the county," the sheriff said.

Apache County officials are unwilling to give up on their efforts to remove him from office, Hounshell said. "Mr. White should be careful. People who live in glass houses shouldn't throw stones. He just might be the next target."

Hounshell said he will continue to fight the attacks on his office and employees for the benefit of the citizens of Apache County.

"It has been their support and encouragement that has helped my staff and I to continue in this fight. Battling the government and a whole army of lawyers is not easy," the sheriff said.

"We are well aware that we may soon be faced with another indictment," he said, but added, "We will continue this fight. I have done nothing illegal."