A Colorado state senator is facing serious legal allegations after he reportedly falsified timecards and failed to report income appropriately. The man, Sen. Steve King, will mount a criminal defense against three felony counts and two misdemeanor charges in connection with the alleged violations. He is formally accused of embezzlement of public property, theft, forgery and other significant crimes. Sen. King could spend time behind bars for his role in the crimes.

Authorities explain that the man was terminated from his part-time position at the Mesa County Sheriff's Office after he allegedly falsified his timecard. The man had been working with the department before he was elected, and he continued to stay on the staff on a part-time basis. Investigators say that the man's alleged timecard fraud may have begun as early as July 2013, when the man allegedly began taking public money for his own use. He is accused of taking between $2,000 and $5,000 for personal use.

The 56-year-old man has spent eight years so far in the state's legislature. He had worked for more than 30 years in law enforcement in Mesa County and Grand Junction before he was elected. He is slated to appear in a Mesa District Court in mid-August. The man had been running for the Mesa County sheriff position at the time he lost his job with the department, but he ultimately dropped out of that race.

Even government officials find themselves in trouble with felony charges from time to time. It is critical to acknowledge the fact that such defendants are not automatically considered guilty simply because they were arrested and arraigned. These defendants deserve the right to present their own side of the story in a fair and unbiased legal proceeding, no matter the nature of the alleged violation.

Source:  The Denver Post, "Colorado State Sen. Steve King charged with three felonies" Nancy Lofholm, Jul. 30, 2014