Salt Lake County, Utah (ABC 4 News) - A former candidate for Sheriff and current police officer is arrested and charged with stealing money from the very city he served. Beau Babka, a well known figure to many in Salt Lake County, was charged on Monday with two felony counts of misuse of public funds.
Babka was booked into the Salt Lake County Jail where he later released late Monday afternoon on his own reconnaissance. The law enforcement officer was placed on paid administrative leave from the Cottonwood Heights Police Department on December 26th, days after his alleged stealing was uncovered.
Investigators believe that Babka used his city issued credit card to fill his personal vehicles with gas at more than a dozen gas pumps in November & December; Prosecutors believe Babka bought nearly $900 in gas.
Court Documents reveal that when confronted with the allegations, Babka told a supervisor," I did it, I'm financially destitute. The campaign left me in chaos, I'll pay the money back and more."
Salt Lake County District Attorney Sim Gill filed the charges against Babka but wanted to emphasis that he is innocent until proven guilty.
Babka has worked for many law enforcement organizations in Utah over several years, including South Salt Lake, and the Salt Lake County Sheriff's Office.
Babka lost an election bid for Salt Lake County Sheriff in November, running against incumbent Jim Winder. He also ran for Congress as a Democrat in 2004, but lost to Republican Chris Cannon. Babka switched to the Republican Party in 2008.
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