Bobby Sutton Jr.: "I'm just starting over."

Other articles by Brian J. Pedersen:

Skrappy's settles into new digs Tucson youth center settles in to new Downtown location Three Tucson men indicted on child pornography counts 3 years given in ID theft; Honda patrons victims South Tucson looks at trash-pickup feesThose NM fireworks could bring fines, jail10 buildings have 63 violations Upright wing with doorway is an artistic flight of fancy Most of dirt put down on Tombstone street has been scraped away Tombstone's Allen Street gets a little less dirty

Administrative & Professional
Tucson Urban League
CEO/President Construction
West-Press
Printing Administrative & Professional
Jorgensen Brooks Group
Counselor Finance and Accounting
Charles E. Gillman Company
Accounting Specialist Mechanical
Komatsu Equipment Co
Resident Field Mechanic Health Care
Dependable Health Services
Physical Therapists Health Care
CENTRAL ARIZONA COLLEGE
DIRECTOR OF HEALTH INFORMATION MANAGEMENT

The cost of defending himself against federal extortion charges came "pretty close" to financially wiping out Bobby Sutton Jr., the former mayor of Marana said Tuesday after he and his wife filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy protection.

According to their voluntary petition filed in U.S. Bankruptcy Court, the 38-year-old Sutton and wife Monica listed $1.043 million in liabilities against $735,000 in assets.

Included in the Suttons' debt is more than $343,000 owed on their home in Continental Ranch, $200,000 owed on a rental property in Las Vegas and a $190,666 claim associated with a civil lawsuit filed against Bobby Sutton by former employer Dex Media.

Sutton, Marana's mayor from 1999 to 2005, was indicted in April 2005 along with Marana businessman Richard A. Westfall on charges of attempted extortion and conspiracy to commit extortion.

Federal prosecutors said Sutton and Westfall tried to force Waste Management Inc., a Houston-based company that operates a waste-transfer facility in Marana, to hire Westfall and pay him more than $300,000 in exchange for Westfall's not participating in a state investigation into overweight loads leaving the transfer station.

The pair's trial ended in a mistrial in October 2007, and in December 2007 Sutton and Westfall each pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor charge of deprivation of rights under color of law. In other words, Sutton and Westfall prevented Waste Management from freely engaging in interstate commerce.

Sutton declined to say how much he spent on his legal defense, but Sutton's bankruptcy lawyer, Eric Slocum Sparks, said the trial cost "hundreds of thousands in legal fees."

Sparks also said the civil case filed by Dex, which claims Sutton and former business partner Myron Hicks failed to pay $193,600 in Yellow Pages advertising for a garage-door repair company run by Sutton, is nearing a trial date in Pima County Superior Court.

The costs associated with that case became too much for Sutton, who recently became unemployed, Sparks said.

"That's when he decided he couldn't continue to put money out," Sparks said. "This will allow them to get out from under their debt and get a fresh start."

Sutton declined to discuss his recent employment. He said he is looking into some "opportunities."

"I'm just starting over," he said.

Chapter 7 bankruptcy, also known as liquidation, puts the filer's assets in the control of a trustee, who is responsible for selling the assets to help pay off creditors. Chapter 7 also allows a filer to claim certain property, such as a primary residence or a retirement account, as exempt from forfeiture.

Sparks said within the next 30 days a meeting will be set up with Sutton's creditors to begin discussions on settling the couple's debts.

The bankruptcy filing included a statement of intention that lists the Suttons' rental home in Las Vegas and their 2004 Ford F-150 pickup truck as property they will surrender.