Paul Petersen is scheduled to be in Maricopa County Superior Court on Tuesday morning.
The former county assessor is accused of swindling the state’s Medicaid system to get healthcare for pregnant Marshallese women and help fuel an illegal adoption scam.
It’s Petersen’s first hearing in Maricopa County Superior Court since his Marshallese co-defendant Lynwood Jennet pleaded guilty to reduced charges and agreed to testify against her old boss.
Court records say a plea offer has also been given to Petersen, but give no details on the proposal.
Petersen has maintained that he’s innocent. Court records say there’s a handful of different defenses his lawyer may use in a criminal trial.
Petersen’s accused of fleecing Arizona’s Medicaid agency out of more than $800,000.
Defense lawyer Kurt Altman said the hearing is to make sure the case is moving forward and set future court dates.
