Krolicki reports more than $160,000 in donations to pay for his legal defense

Lt. Gov. Brian Krolicki has reported raising more than $160,000 in donations to a fund to pay for his legal defense against felony charges of mishandling state funds.

Because of restrictions on donations during and around legislative sessions, the fund was allowed to accept contributions for just 10 days.

The disclosure report Krolicki submitted to the Nevada secretary of state this morning shows numerous individual donors gave a few hundred dollars apiece.

State Senate Minority Leader Bill Raggio, R-Reno, gave $1,000, as did Sen. Mike McGinness, R-Fallon. Assemblyman James Settelmeyer, R-Gardnerville, kicked in $500.

Reno businessman T. J. Day contributed $10,000, while Las Vegas businessman Monte Miller donated $5,000. Both are major GOP donors in Nevada. Republican groups from around the state also gave money.

Former state Treasurer Bob Seale, whose company helped manage the college savings program involved in the charges against Krolicki, donated $1,000. Seale has not been accused of wrongdoing.

Under state law, the contribution limit for legal defense funds is $10,000.

The financial disclosure covers only the period through Dec. 31, while the fund accepted donations through Jan. 2. Including those last few days, the fund has raised more than $200,000, Krolicki said today.

In a statement, Krolicki called the donations “the greatest holiday gift I could ever have imagined.”

Krolicki was indicted last month on four felony counts related to his activities while he served as state treasurer from 1999 to 2007. Prosecutors charge that he kept monies earned by a state college savings program out of the state accounts where they were supposed to be kept.

Krolicki has called the prosecution politically motivated.