Benson has said that he brought bookkeeping problems to the attention of the county commission three years ago. He said he believed that nothing illegal had been done, but that mistakes had been made by both the sheriff's office and other county offices.

"In some cases, help was offered. In others, I was left alone to make decisions regarding appropriate use of your sacred taxpayer dollars, and I did what I thought was right, what had been done before," he wrote.

Benson's statement also suggests that for some, county politics has become more important than the safety of residents. He wrote that some in government want him out of office and he would likely not have been charged with any crime had he simply resigned.

The commission's statement acknowledged limited information about the investigation has been released. But officials have been quiet to "protect the integrity of the investigation along with any individuals involved."

Iron County's undersheriff, Lt. Chuck Mitchell, has also been on leave since April, leaving two weeks before Benson. Mitchell will remain on leave pending the outcome of the investigation, his attorney, Keith Barnes, said.

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E-MAIL: jdobner@desnews.com