Auditor admits theft and resigns

Salt Lake County Auditor Craig Sorensen resigned Monday, two weeks after records of questionable gas purchases at county expense came to light.

A frank statement of resignation was issued through Sorensen's attorney, Walter Bugden:

"The accusation that I stole gas from the county is true. . . . What I did was terribly wrong and it was criminal. . . . I apologize to the taxpayers who have the right to expect their elected officials to be honest."

Sorensen's direct and public approach to his exit is winning him kudos from other county officials.

"That statement demonstrates what a stand-up individual he is . . . ," County Councilman Joe Hatch said. "Essentially, he's doing something that you don't have to do in this society, and that's plead guilty."

"I feel deeply for Craig and his family, but there is no doubt that Craig, as an independently elected official, is doing the right thing under these circumstances," County Mayor Nancy Workman said.

Sorensen is the second county official to resign within a month over personal use of county vehicles or county gas cards. Chief financial officer Randy Allen — not part of Sorensen's office, but Workman's — resigned over two trips to Lake Powell he took in his county car.

Sorensen said he is cooperating with District Attorney David Yocom, who has been conducting a preliminary inquiry into the general use of county vehicles and gasoline purchases for them.

The candid nature of Sorensen's statement could also work against him because it leaves little for plea bargaining.

Yocom said no plea agreement has been reached. He added that he didn't expect to hear anything from Sorensen until Tuesday, the day of a previously scheduled — and now postponed — press conference.

Depending on what potential charges Yocom decides to prosecute, Sorensen might face criminal charges including theft, misuse of public funds, public employee ethics violations and communications fraud, among other things.

There is some precedent for the situation. Gerald Hansen, the county's auditor in 1976 (two years before Sorensen took office), served 10 days in jail because of official misconduct. Then-county attorney Paul Van Dam initially alleged embezzlement and misuse of public funds but dropped all charges except one when Hansen agreed to resign.