From Deseret News archives:
Ex-auditor seeking plea bargain
Sorensen wants to resolve gasoline case quickly, his lawyer says
Walter Bugden, attorney for Sorensen, said that his client accepts full responsibility for his actions.
Sorensen on Thursday was charged with one count of second-degree felony misuse of public money for allegedly buying 7,641 gallons of gasoline that were not used for his county-issued vehicle. Court documents state this cost county taxpayers $10,139.
During a brief hearing before 3rd District Judge Robin Reese Friday, Sorensen was given a roll-call court date of June 15. He did not say anything in court or outside, letting his attorney instead speak for him.
Bugden said later that Sorensen wants to resolve the situation quickly.
"Mr. Sorensen is fully cooperating with the district attorney's office. Last week, he went to the district attorney's office and made a full statement to authorities," Bugden said.
"We're not making excuses for what Mr. Sorensen did — what Mr. Sorensen did was clearly wrong and he intends to accept responsibility," Bugden said. "We intend to work out a plea agreement and be back as soon as possible."
Second-degree felonies carry a potential penalty of up to 15 years in prison if an individual is convicted. However, plea bargains negotiated between defense attorneys and prosecutors are common.
Charging documents filed in 3rd District Court claim that Sorensen had a gas card for a 2001 Ford Expedition to use as part of his job but allegedly bought gasoline for another vehicle. Sorensen can be seen on videotape at a gas station last month buying gas for a vehicle other than the one needed for his job, court documents state.
Prosecutors maintain this misuse of public money occurred from Jan. 1, 2001, through April 30.
Sorensen resigned from his job Monday.
Bugden later elaborated by phone on how sorry Sorensen is for what he has done and how he wants to take responsibility. "It's eating him up. We're really trying to step out — we're sticking our jaw out and saying, 'It's all true.' "
Bugden said his client "has really lost a lot" through his actions.
"He's resigned a position that was very important to him. I hope that what's not completely obscured by this mistake is that he is a good guy who has done a lot of good things for the county. This is a human being who made a mistake, who's not blaming anybody else," Bugden said.
In another recent situation involving apparently irregular use of a county vehicle, Salt Lake County's chief financial officer, Randy Allen, has resigned. Allen used his county vehicle to haul his boat to Lake Powell twice last year.
Greg Curtis, the House majority leader and legal counsel for Salt Lake County Mayor Nancy Workman, recently repaid the state Legislature for $767 in mileage money he got while driving a county-issued vehicle with fuel paid for by the county.
Contributing: Alan Edwards.
E-mail: lindat@desnews.com
