Michael Benson former head of the Maricopa County Sports Commission is facing nine theft counts

Michael Benson, 47, who served as the head of the Maricopa County Sports Commission for a little more than a year, is facing nine theft counts, some of which are felonies that carry more than a two-year jail sentence. After Benson resigned on July 16, 2007, an audit flagged more than $40,000 in questionable spending from the commission's account, which had dwindled from $144,284, to $23,339, during Benson's tenure. In February, the commission asked the County Attorney's Office to investigate, said County Attorney Andrew Thomas.The query includes: A $2,270 trip to Grand Cayman Islands, where Benson stayed at a Ritz-Carlton and ran up dinner and lunch bills worth hundreds of dollars. He attended an NFL event there with a personal friend who is a sports agent. Three different stays at Scottsdale resorts, including one with a tab for $544 from Sky Bar.Two gym memberships at Lifetime Fitness for his daughter's lacrosse coach and her coach's boyfriend.
A $200 cash withdrawal from an ATM at Bourbon Street Circus, a Phoenix strip club.
Because the withdrawals were coming from a debit card that the commission had not given Benson permission to open, the purchases were not being cross-referenced, Thomas said.