If auditor stole, charges possible

Salt Lake County Auditor Craig Sorensen, whose questionable gasoline purchases on the county card have some calling for his resignation, may face more than unemployment should it be determined he acted illegally.

According to Utah law, a person who steals property worth up to $1,000 can be charged with misdemeanor theft. From $1,000 to $5,000 it becomes a third-degree felony, and above $5,000 becomes a second-degree felony.

Sorensen put $1,162 worth of gas (758 gallons) on his county gas card in the first three months of 2004. Monetary records are not available for prior years, but in 2003 Sorensen pumped 3,152 gallons on the county dime, 5,557 gallons in 2002, and 2,052 in 2001, according to county records.

The price of gasoline during that time was well more than a dollar a gallon, according to the U.S. Department of Energy.

The amount of gas and the associated mileage have raised questions. If Sorensen had put all that gas in the county-owned Ford Expedition he was given full-time use of, it would have meant he was getting only about 5 miles per gallon.

The vehicle is rated by the federal government at about 15 miles per gallon.

If it is determined Sorensen's conduct was illegal, he could be charged with a variety of crimes, including theft, misuse of public funds, public employee ethics violations and communications fraud, among other things.

Exactly what charges — if any — might stick is an open question. Gerald Hansen, the county's auditor in 1976 (two years before Sorensen took office), served 10 days in jail as a result of a charge of official misconduct.

Then-county attorney Paul Van Dam, who went on to become state attorney general and is now challenging Sen. Bob Bennett for his seat, initially alleged embezzlement and misuse of public funds, but dropped all charges except one when Hansen agreed to resign.

Sorensen has not come into his office and has not contacted his employees for more than a week, which has raised speculation that he may resign.

Jenny Wilson, a County Council candidate, isn't waiting.

"Unfortunately, the achievements of Mr. Sorensen during his years of service to the county are overshadowed by significant evidence of unlawful activity," she said in a press release. "We must demand more out of our elected officials — especially those asked to keep watch on the others. I believe that it is time for Mr. Sorensen's resignation and time to restore trust in Salt Lake County."