Paul Petersen has already served more than 1,400 days in custody, paid full restitution, and lost his career, financial stability, and the life he built over decades.
He remains incarcerated in Arizona today.
So the question now is simple: has enough been served?
Paul Petersen is a former Maricopa County Assessor, adoption attorney, and father of four.
For more than two decades, he worked with families navigating complex adoption processes while also serving in public office. Over that time, he was involved in more than 500 adoptions, helping connect children with families.
Paul grew up in Arizona and built his career around public service and family law.
As a young adult, he served a church mission in the Republic of the Marshall Islands, where he developed long-standing relationships that later shaped his work in adoption.
He later served as Maricopa County Assessor, overseeing property valuation and administrative operations in one of the largest counties in the United States.
Alongside his public role, he practiced law focused on adoption.
As an attorney licensed in Arizona, Utah, and Arkansas, Paul worked in adoption law, helping families navigate interstate and international processes.
His work involved legal filings, coordination with courts, and managing requirements across jurisdictions.
Over time, this became a defining part of his life’s work.
In 2020 and 2021, Paul became the subject of investigations related to his adoption work involving birth mothers from the Republic of the Marshall Islands.
Legal actions were brought in multiple jurisdictions:
Each state pursued its own legal process, creating a complex multi-state case.
The cases were resolved through plea agreements across three jurisdictions, resulting in overlapping sentences:
Approximately $679,000 paid in full
Each jurisdiction made its own sentencing decision.
This structure extended Paul’s time in custody beyond his federal sentence.
Paul has been in custody since 2021.
Total time served to date: Over 5 years in custody
“Paul has always cared deeply about his family and the people he served. We continue to pray for fairness and compassion as this process moves forward.”
— David Petersen
Paul is the father of four children and has remained connected to his family throughout his incarceration.
While serving his sentence, he was diagnosed with Stage 3b kidney disease and continues to receive ongoing medical care.
Paul has:
He now remains in Arizona custody under a consecutive state sentence.
At this point, the issue is no longer only about what happened.
It is about what continued incarceration is meant to accomplish.
Does continued incarceration still serve a meaningful purpose, or is it time for review?
