County assessor arrested for DUI

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An anonymous citizen complaint has led to the arrest of an elected Pinal County official for allegedly driving under the influence.

According to Pinal County Sheriff’s Office spokesman Tim Gaffney, the department received a complaint Feb. 5 stating that County Assessor Paul Larkin frequents the Kokopelli Moon Saloon in Florence daily from approximately 3 p.m. until 5 p.m. and then gets into his late-model silver Dodge Dakota and drives home inebriated.

The complainant asked why the department turned a blind eye to the actions of the assessor.

In response to the complaint, the sheriff’s office staked out the Kokopelli Moon Saloon yesterday and pulled over a 2008 Dodge Dakota for weaving.

Larkin was the driver of the vehicle and according to Gaffney he smelled heavily of alcohol and had watery, bloodshot eyes. Gaffney said Larkin admitted to having three mixed drinks and submitted to field sobriety tests that confirmed he was impaired by alcohol.

In Arizona it is a crime to operate a motor vehicle with blood alcohol content of 0.08 percent or higher. According to Gaffney, the breathalyzer test administered at the scene showed Larkin had a .099 blood alcohol level.

Charges against Larkin will be submitted to the Pinal County Attorney’s Office, pending the results of a blood test taken to confirm his BAC.

For first-time DUI offenders, Arizona law mandates a fine of $250 to $2,500, a 90-day suspension of driver’s license and 10 consecutive days in jail. However, the court may suspend 9 of the 10 days if the convicted person agrees to seek treatment.

This incident appears to be Larkin’s first DUI arrest, but it is not the first time he has had problems caused by alcohol.

In 2008, Larkin had his county vehicle taken away after a citizen filed a complaint alleging Larkin consumed a beer before getting into his county vehicle, according to county spokeswoman Heather Murphy.

“When the complaint came in he agreed to relinquish his keys,” Murphy said.

Larkin has been Pinal County Assessor since 1985. Because he is an elected official, the county cannot terminate his employment over the DUI charge, even if he is convicted.

“The only ways Mr. Larkin could lose his job would be through a recall, losing an election, resignation or death,” Murphy said.