The former Salt Lake County auditor has pleaded guilty to a reduced charge for filling the gas tanks of his personal vehicles with fuel intended for his work-assigned SUV and most likely will not spend any time behind bars.

Craig Sorensen, 57, entered a guilty plea Thursday to third-degree felony attempted misuse of public funds as part of a plea agreement.

He originally was charged with misuse of public money, a second-degree felony that potentially carries a prison term of one to 15 years.

A presentence report has been ordered and sentencing is set for Oct. 18 before 3rd District Judge Constandinos Himonas. Sorensen's attorney said prosecutors will not ask for any jail time as part of the plea agreement.

"He really is sorry," said Walter Bugden, Sorensen's lawyer. "He is truly remorseful and certainly embarrassed, and apologizes to the taxpayers and other public officials, as well as his staff and family and friends."

Although both the defense attorney and prosecutors are recommending no jail time and are asking for probation, the final decision rests with the judge. A third-degree felony can bring a sentence of zero to five years in prison, but a judge can suspend that.

"We hope the judge will not impose a jail sentence," Bugden said. "Mr. Sorensen has not made any excuses. He has stepped up and accepted full responsibility."

Part of the plea bargain negotiated between prosecutors and the defense attorney is that Sorensen will repay the county $8,600 as restitution for the gas that he was not authorized to use.

Bugden said Sorensen, who resigned as auditor and is still unemployed, has paid for his behavior "in huge ways."

Sorensen loved his former job and "he's been a terrific auditor, a terrific employee for 26 years," Bugden said. "He made a mistake. We're not making any excuses — he goofed up."

Sorensen resigned from his job in June after admitting he misused a county gas credit card. The Salt Lake County District Attorney's Office claimed the alleged abuse occurred between Jan. 1, 2001, and April 30, 2004.

Charging documents in 3rd District Court stated that Sorensen could be seen on videotapes from a gas station putting fuel into a vehicle other than the one authorized for his job.

Comparisons were made between the mileage on his county-issued vehicle's odometer and the amount of gas paid for by the county for Sorensen's use, according to the documents.

Two other Salt Lake County officials resigned recently in connection with alleged misuse of county mileage money or county vehicles.

Greg Curtis, majority leader of the Utah House of Representatives and legal counsel to Salt Lake County Mayor Nancy Workman, resigned his county job in June after reimbursing the state Legislature $767. That sum paid for filling the gas tank of his county-issued vehicle with a county-issued charge card.

Randy Allen, the county's chief financial officer, resigned from that job after he said he had used a county-issued vehicle for two personal trips to Lake Powell.

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E-mail: lindat@desnews.com