Krolicki case faces deadline
A judge Wednesday gave the state attorney general's office one week to find a prosecutor to take over the case against Lt. Gov. Brian Krolicki and his chief of staff, who are accused of misappropriating state funds.
District Judge Elissa Cadish had previously disqualified the attorney general from prosecuting Krolicki and Kathy Besser.
"I need to know who's going to proceed with the case," Cadish said. "I don't want it to just sit out there indefinitely."
The attorney general's office last week filed a petition with the Nevada Supreme Court to overturn Cadish's decision to remove the agency from Krolicki's case. No ruling has yet been issued.
Chief Deputy Attorney General Conrad Hafen said Wednesday that he will file a request in District Court asking Cadish to hold off appointing a new prosecutor while the Supreme Court considers the agency's request.
He also said that the attorney general has identified three potential special prosecutors who could take over the case. They have not reviewed the case and haven't agreed to prosecute.
Authorities accuse Krolicki of misappropriating about $6 million in fees earned by the state's college savings program by not depositing it in state accounts, as required by law.
The funds have been accounted for and Krolicki is not charged with embezzlement.
Krolicki and Besser have maintained their innocence.
The Nevada College Savings Program is a public-private initiative aimed at helping students and parents save money for school. The charges arose from a 2007 audit of the program. The auditors found Krolicki went around budget controls and spent more on advertising than the Legislature allowed.
A Clark County grand jury indicted Krolicki and Besser on multiple felony charges. Krolicki was indicted on two counts of misappropriation and falsification of accounts by a public officer and two counts of misappropriation by a treasurer.
Besser was charged with two counts of being a principal to misappropriation and falsification of accounts and being principal to misappropriation by a treasurer. She served as chief of staff in the treasurer's office starting in 2001 and later served as chief of staff in the lieutenant governor's office.
Contact reporter David Kihara at dkihara@reviewjournal.com or 702-380-1039.
