HUSBAND OF FORMER BUSH CABINET MEMBER ARRESTED ON CHILD SEX CHARGES

Posted by Phoenix Sex Crimes Attorney Nick Alcock:

Officials confirmed that Terry Peters of Peoria, the husband of former U.S. Transportation Secretary Mary Peters, has been arrested on suspicion of sexually abusing a 7-year-old girl and booked into Fourth Avenue Jail in Phoenix.

Peters, 67, was arrested on Saturday after Maricopa County police spent a week investigating claims that he had a sexual relationship with the minor. Police were tipped off by the young girl’s family, who contacted the authorities on June 18th. The name of the girl will not be released because of her age, and the manner in which she knew Peters will also remain sealed in an effort to protect her anonymity.

Terry is the husband of Mary Peters, who served as President Bush’s Secretary of Transportation from October 2006 to January 2009. Both she and her husband worked in the transportation industry before her appointment, as she was previously director of the Arizona Department of Transportation and he worked in the transportation technology industry before retiring some time ago. While in office at ADOT , she was recognized as the Most Influential Person in Arizona Transportation by the Arizona Business Journal.

Police learned Terry Peters was at a family cabin in Happy Jack in Coconino County, and Coconino Sheriff’s officers arrested Peters in his vehicle Saturday afternoon. Peoria police officers took custody of Peters, who was charged with sexual misconduct with a minor and sexual abuse, said Peoria police spokesman Jay Davies.

The alleged sexual conduct occurred in 2009 and 2010, when the girl was about 7, Davies said. “There are multiple instances of this happening,” he said. “We’re trying not to disclose too much about the relationship between the two for the safety and privacy of the victim,” Davies said.

Terry Peters, who has been retired for a number of years, worked in the transportation technology industry.

The charges will undoubtedly cause problems for Mrs. Peters as well, who works closely with Governor Jan Brewer. She was the second woman to hold the position as Secretary of Transportation and has worked as a fundraiser and supporter of Gov. Brewer’s for years.