Then in October 2000, Gardner was arrested for DUI again. He later pleaded guilty to misdemeanor charges of DUI, theft and driving with an open container and served two days on a Utah County Jail work detail, paid a fine and served probation.

Gardner always denied wrongdoing in each of the cases.

"I made some stupid decisions," he said as he left office in December 2002. "I screwed up, and I've paid the price for it in spades, but I can look anybody in the eye and say it never affected my ability to do my job or my commitment to the job."

Before he was elected to the County Commission, Gardner was employed as the treatment coordinator for adult psychiatry at Utah Valley Regional Medical Center.

Gardner is licensed as a marriage and family therapist through the Utah Division of Occupational and Professional Licensing. DOPL placed him on probation on Dec. 3, 2002, for unprofessional conduct, and the probation is ongoing.

Gardner is scheduled to appear in 4th District Court in Spanish Fork on June 25 for an arraignment.

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E-mail: sisraelsen@desnews.com