User:ErieSwiftByrd/sandbox/Paul D. Petersen

Paul Petersen is a former Maricopa County assessor in Arizona, from his appointment in 2013 until his resignation in 2020. Petersen came to national attention after he was indicted for running an international adoption fraud scheme.

Personal life and education
Petersen's father is former Arizona State Treasurer David Peterson. Peterson married his wife Raquel in 2006. She field for divorce in 2019 after his indictment.

Petersen received his undergraduate degree from the ASU Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and his law degree from the Sandra Day O'Connor College of Law in 2002.

Career
Peterson was first appointed Assessor in 2013 by the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors. He was chosen over 10 other applicants Petersen then won a special election for county assessor in 2014 against Libertarian candidate Rebecca Kielsky, and was re-elected as Assessor in 2016 unopposed.

Adoption fraud indictment
On October 8, 2019, Petersen and another person, Lynwood Jennet, were indicted in an adoption fraud scheme by authorities in Arizona, Utah, and the Western District of Arkansas. Petersen and Jennett are accused of bringing pregnant women from the Marshall Islands to the United States with the intent that their children would be given up for adoption.

Petersen was arrested by Arizona state police on October 9, 2019, and transferred to federal custody two days later.

Suspension
In October 2019, the Board of supervisors suspended Petersen. However, in Arizona the board of supervisors only have the constitutional power to suspend an assessor for 120 days. Despite stating tag the would;t desire, Peterson resigned on January 7, 2020.