Hounshell forced to resign
Navajo people saddened by resignation of Apache County sheriff

By Karen Francis
Staff writer

Brian Hounshell

ST. JOHN’S, Ariz. — Navajo officials were speechless upon learning that Apache County Sheriff Brian Hounshell has agreed to resign from office and has pleaded guilty to a felony charge as part of a plea agreement with special prosecutor Grant Woods. Hounshell’s resignation will become effective Sept. 30.

Hounshell was facing 11 felony charges including conspiracy, misuse of public funds, fraud and theft. But he agreed to plead guilty to only one count, soliciting the misuse of public monies, as part of a plea deal with special prosecutor Grant Woods.

Hounshell, 41, agreed never to run for public office and pay $15,000 in restitution. He faces up to a year in jail when he’s sentenced on Dec. 7.

Authorities said Hounshell used a county-owned trailer to haul a truck he bought for his son from Phoenix to St. Johns and also charged the trip on a credit card belonging to the Sheriff’s Department.

Hounshell was first indicted in 2005 after several employees complained of his misuse of public funds.

According to Apache County Attorney Criss E. Candelaria, Chief Deputy Sheriff David Murray will execute the duties of the sheriff’s office until the vacancy is filled.

In a statement released by Hounshell, he states, “After more than three years of battle, I have exhausted all options. I have decided with deep reservations to accept a plea agreement of a single count of solicitation of misuse of public monies.”

The sheriff goes on to explain that the charge concerns an instance when he transported a personal vehicle using a county vehicle and trailer, which according to the plea agreement occurred around May 2004.

In his statement, Hounshell thanks the people of Apache County for their loyal support over the past 22 years.

“This is the hardest decision I have had to make in my life,” he stated. “My family has suffered during this battle, as well as you the people who elected me ... You the voters stood by me, my deputies and my staff during this fight. I would have been gone a long time ago if not for you the people.”

He also calls his replacement, Chief Deputy Sheriff Murray, “a friend of the Navajo people who spent many years in Salina Springs.”

Several Navajo officials had to gather their thoughts before commenting on the sheriff’s announcement.

“I’m speechless,” Navajo Nation Council Delegate Lorenzo Curley said. Curley represents Nahata Dziil, Houck and Lupton chapters, which are each within the borders of Apache County.

“A lot of people in the Sanders area built a relationship with Sheriff Hounshell,” he said. “We relied on him to have a good relationship with the community. He’s always willing to follow things through for us.”

Curley said that ever since Hounshell was embroiled in legal battles with the county, less services were available for the communities.

“I don’t know what this means for the community — whether his replacement will be supportive of the community or not,” Curley said.

Upon hearing the news, the second delegate for the same area, Tim Goodluck, also said, “What do you say to that?”

“The Navajo people supported him,” Goodluck continued. “The way he presented himself to Navajo, he had a lot of enthusiasm. That’s how I perceived him — that this is the person who can do the job. Things were looking in favor of the people.”

Goodluck said that Apache County Law Enforcement had been improving services to the Navajo portion of the county under Hounshell’s leadership.

“It’s disappointing,” he said. “You feel frustrated because we saw hope that things were going to turn for the betterment of the Navajo people.”

Council Delegate for Fort Defiance Larry Anderson also expressed shock that Hounshell would be resigning from office.

“I feel that he is still a good man,” Anderson said. “I’m really sorry to see a good man go, but if he announced he pleaded guilty, I just want to wish him good luck.”

George Hardeen, communications director at the Office of the President, said he had not spoken with President Joe Shirley yet concerning Hounshell’s resignation, but he did say that it was a sad day for many people.

“He’s done an outstanding job as sheriff,” Hardeen said. “He’s always been accessible to the Navajo people, President Shirley and the Council.”

Hardeen added, “I’m sure the sheriff is acting in the best interest of the county, the people, his family and himself.”

Candelaria released a statement saying that he “is hopeful that this conviction and the sentencing will be the first steps in securing justice, and restoring public trust and confidence in county government and law enforcement.”

It will now be up to the Board of Supervisors, which had not yet met to discuss the situation, to determine how to fill the vacancy. Chief Deputy County Attorney Brad Carlyon said that the board has the authority to fill vacancies through appointment. The appointment would last for just over one year.

Sentencing for Hounshell is scheduled for Dec. 7. The maximum sentence, according to the plea agreement, is 1 1/2 years.

The Sheriff’s office is responsible for the full time law enforcement duties in Apache County, which covers approximately 11,218 square miles, much of which is on the Navajo reservation. According to the 2000 census, Apache County has a population of 69,423. The sheriff’s office employs 80 personnel and houses all prisoners from the county courts as well as three incorporated city police departments. The county has jurisdiction for all non-Native Americans living on the Navajo Nation portion of Apache County.