PHOENIX (AP) -- A criminal indictment accuses a member of the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors of failing to disclose involvement in a wide variety of land deals, business associations and business assets.

The 118-count indictment alleged felony and misdemeanor offenses spanning more than a decade, the County Attorney's Office announced Tuesday.

The County Attorney's Office said the indictment is the culmination of the first phase of an investigation conducted by a joint anti-corruption task force run by the Sheriff's Office and County Attorney's Office.

The indictment alleged that Republican Don Stapley failed to disclose multimillion-dollar parcels of land in Maricopa and Pinal counties, hundreds of thousands of dollars in personal and business bank accounts, leadership positions in Arizona corporations, and many other financial holdings and dealings.

In a statement released Tuesday evening, Stapley says he has always put the interest of the public first, including full and complete disclosure of any assets.

"I have served in public office for 14 years. I'm proud of that service. I have always put the interest of the public first, including full and complete disclosure of any assets," Stapley said.

"I stand falsely accused of failure to disclose financial information. I have disclosed all the information and income required by law during my time in office," Stapley said.

"I am shocked and disappointed that such accusations are being made. I cannot fathom where these accusations came from or what motivated them, but if my integrity is being questioned, I assure you that I stand on my record of complete integrity and disclosure and will fight these allegations. This matter should be quickly dismissed," Stapley said.

Sheriff's deputies also are investigating whether county employees assisted Stapley in trying to block the investigation.

On May 27, 2008, sheriff's deputies questioned the clerk of the county board of supervisors about Stapley's disclosure forms. Sheriff's deputies instructed the clerk to keep the investigation confidential so that it would not be compromised. The next day, prosecutors said Stapley filed new disclosure forms. For the first time, he acknowledged a deferred compensation plan, accounts with Charles Schwab, additional land ownership, and additional business interests, the statement said.

As a result of his failure to disclose companies he has been doing business with and his personal and business accounts, the public has not been able to assess whether any conflict of interest existed as Stapley regularly made decisions on land development, rights of way, and purchases of county property, prosecutors said.

The investigation regarding Stapley and other county employees is not over, noted Sheriff Joe Arpaio and County Attorney Andrew Thomas.

Thomas added the case showed he would follow through on his promise to voters to prosecute fraud and financial crimes.

© 2008 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Learn more about our Privacy Policy.