Sorensen, Workman go before judges

One Salt Lake County official's legal odyssey was winding up Monday while another's was just beginning.

In one courtroom in the Matheson Courthouse was Craig Sorensen, the former Salt Lake County auditor who resigned after admitting he purchased several thousand dollars in gasoline for personal use on the county gas credit card. He tearfully apologized to a judge and the public and said he would accept any sentence the court gave him.

Salt Lake County Mayor Nancy Workman, smiling and cheerful, was facing another judge at the same time in another courtroom. Workman was arraigned and entered not-guilty pleas on two felony charges of using county health department funds to help pay two employees who worked at the Boys and Girls Clubs of South Valley.

In the Sorensen case, 3rd District Judge Deno Himonas sentenced Sorensen to 10 days in jail, 12 months probation, 200 hours community service and ordered him to pay $5,250 in fines. Sorensen already has repaid the county $8,600 for the gas. Sorensen also must not hold any job with "fiduciary responsibilities" while on probation.

Sorensen's original second-degree felony charge of misuse of public money was reduced to a third-degree felony as part of a plea agreement. Over a period of about three years, he had used a county gasoline card for his own vehicle and was caught doing so on videotape.

Prosecutor Anne Cameron said the state was not asking for jail time for Sorensen and stated, "We believe this man is remorseful."

One of the numerous letters sent to the judge in support of Sorensen was from Salt Lake County District Attorney David Yocom, who recommended that any sentence should consider how much good Sorensen has done for the county and the fact that he came forward and admitted wrongdoing.

Defense attorney Walter Bugden urged the judge to impose a sentence that not only looked at Sorensen's illegal conduct but also "looked at the total man," who has led an otherwise upstanding life.

"I'm very, very sorry," Sorensen said in an emotion-choked voice. "I need to apologize to the public. I need to say how sorry I am. All the people who voted for me, I let them down. I've done damage to the county, and this is a good county. I don't think I can ever repay and make right what I've done."

Himonas said that because Sorensen was a public figure, he was held to a higher standard and the judge said that some jail time was appropriate for the crime since that is what likely would happen with an ordinary citizen. Sorensen must report for jail Oct. 25.

Sorensen technically was sentenced to zero to five years in prison, but the prison term was suspended.