Former Canyon County prosecutor’s bankruptcy papers paint grim picture
Documents filed Monday in U.S. Bankruptcy Court show John Bujak has debts of nearly $1.3 million and about $526,000 in assets — but the lion’s share of that asset value comes from a house and car that he owes more on than they’re worth.
Bujak, who resigned Sept. 30 after failing to pay the county about $302,000 he owed from a contract to handle misdemeanor prosecutions for Nampa, filed additional required paperwork Monday afternoon. he and his wife, Pepper, filed for bankruptcy protection Nov. 1.
The papers show the Bujaks owe about $567,000 on first and second mortgages for their Caldwell home, which is valued at about $468,000. They also owe nearly $32,000 on a 2007 Cadillac Escalade with a listed value about $300 less than the debt. The home and Escalade loans are the only secured debts listed by the couple.
Other debts, all unsecured, include about $122,000 in student loans dating from the 1990s, more than $14,000 in county, state and federal taxes, and $300,000 owed to Canyon County — although that debt is designated as “disputed” on the paperwork.
For assets, the couple lists their home, the Escalade, a 2001 Mercedes CLK valued at $6,500, more than $11,000 in a public employee retirement account, and cash and bank accounts totaling less than $600. They also list $1,900 worth of jewelry, a $350 9 mm handgun and various household goods and clothing.
Chapter 7 provides a way to discharge debt but protect key assets. through that process, a trustee sells all nonexempt property and distributes any proceeds to creditors.
In their initial filing, the Bujaks estimated that there will be no money available to pay unsecured debts. In the documents filed Monday they cited exemptions for virtually all of their belongings except their family pets.
Cash, the retirement account, jewelry and household items are listed as fully exempt, plus $100,000 of their home’s value and $7,000 of the Escalade’s value are exempt under Idaho law.
Canyon County commissioners have hired an attorney and said they will pursue all available options to recoup the money Bujak owes. meanwhile, Idaho State Police and the Latah County prosecutor are investigating whether any criminal charges are appropriate.
And the $600,000 annual contract to handle Nampa prosecutions is now officially between the city and the county, with money paid directly into county coffers. Bujak had set up a private account to handle those payments.
He said the arrangement, allowed by Idaho law and approved by county commissioners, would save the county about $276,000 per year by covering all non-salary expenses for his office, and that if all went well he might personally profit up to $50,000.
Bujak made payments to the county to cover increased salary expenses for his staff and had said he would deliver all remaining funds due by the end of the fiscal year, Sept. 30.
Instead, he handed in his resignation and told commissioners he would repay the debt.
Kristin Rodine: 377-6447
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