Ex-Eagle Mountain mayor faces April theft hearing

AMERICAN FORK — The former mayor of Eagle Mountain will have a preliminary hearing in April on charges that he stole thousands of dollars from city coffers.

Brian Olsen, 35, faces seven charges in 4th District Court of misusing public money, a third-degree felony, for allegedly creating false travel reports and pocketing the reimbursement money.

A third-degree felony charge applies to stolen amounts up to $5,000.

A preliminary hearing was scheduled for April 27 at 1 p.m. at the American Fork Court Building, 75 E. 80 North. A preliminary hearing is used to determine if there is enough of a case to proceed to a trial.

Olsen was charged Oct. 23 — two days after he resigned as the Eagle Mountain mayor, citing personal and family reasons.

The Utah County Attorney's Office had been investigating concerns of city employees about some of Olsen's travel reimbursements.

Olsen had previously been in the spotlight for lying about having a master's degree in public administration. He then resigned from his position with the Utah Highway Patrol.