Maricopa County Schools Chief Pleads Guilty to Misdemeanor

Maricopa County Superintendent of Schools Sandra Dowling has pleaded guilty to a single misdemeanor charge, ending a case where she originally faced 21 felony counts.

Dowling pleaded guilty to one count of employing a relative on Friday. She faces a maximum of four months in jail and $750 in fines.

Sheriff's deputies raided her home and office in early 2006 as they investigated possible misuse of public funds, bid rigging, nepotism and malfeasance. She was eventually indicted on theft, misuse of public funds, conflict of interest and procurement fraud.

Dowling's lawyer told The Arizona Republic that she pleaded guilty to hiring her daughter in 1999, something that wasn't even part of the sheriff's probe.