Thirteen families in Arkansas have filed an injunction against Maricopa County Assessor Paul Petersen. Petersen faces criminal charges in three states for an alleged adoption fraud scheme.
Those families paid Petersen thousands of dollars to start the adoption process, according to a complaint filed Thursday.
Petersen matched prospective adopters to birth mothers in Arkansas. In light of Petersen’s recent charges, those families no longer want him involved in their adoptions.
They’re asking the court to serve as trustee over their cases. Some of those need to be handled quickly as mothers are due to deliver any day.
Petersen faces more than 30 felony counts in Arizona alone.
