Ex-auditor charged with 2nd-degree felony

Deseret News (Salt Lake City), May 28, 2004 by Alan Edwards Deseret Morning News

Former Salt Lake County auditor Craig Sorensen was charged Thursday with misuse of public money, a second-degree felony, for buying gasoline on the county gas credit card for personal use.

In addition to misuse of public money, Sorensen, who was charged in 3rd District Court, could have been charged with theft, public employee ethics violations and communications fraud, among other things. Deputy district attorney Robert Stott, head of the office's criminal division, said the single charge was appropriate.

"We try not to overcharge," he said. "This is a second-degree felony. It's pretty serious."

Sorensen could receive one to 15 years in prison and a fine of up to $10,000 if convicted.

The former auditor is charged with buying $10,140 in gas for personal use. The charge statement cites one example of an investigator who viewed videotapes of Sorensen buying gas at one station on April 26. The tapes showed Sorensen putting gas in both his county-owned Ford Expedition and his personal vehicle.

The $10,140 amount is what investigators calculate would be the expense for gas over and above that required for Sorensen's Expedition in the years 2001-04, based on mileage records and gas prices.

Depending on what kind of plea bargain might be struck between Sorensen and District Attorney David Yocom, the charges may be downgraded.

Gerald Hansen, the county's auditor in 1976 (two years before Sorensen first took office), served 10 days in jail because of "official misconduct." Then-county attorney Paul Van Dam initially alleged embezzlement and misuse of public money (the same charge levied against Sorensen) but dropped all charges except one when Hansen agreed to resign.

Sorensen resigned Monday without a plea bargain in place. Stott said Sorensen's attorney, Wally Bugden, has been cooperating with prosecutors and that a plea bargain is possible sooner rather than later.

"A man who sends out that kind of statement to the press, it seems to me he has the attitude that he would like to get this over with," Stott said.

In a remarkably frank statement of resignation Monday, Sorensen admitted to stealing gas, calling his conduct "criminal."

County officials said they were sorry for Sorensen, whom they have praised as an excellent auditor, but that the process nonetheless needs to go forward.

"I'm still just sick about it," Salt Lake County Council Chairman Steve Harmsen said Thursday. "(But) we're long past giving people sweetheart deals."

The charge of misusing public funds becomes a felony at $5,000 or more worth of property stolen. Theft becomes a felony at $10,000.

E-mail: aedwards@desnews.com