Las Vegas NowNevada Lt. Gov. Krolicki Indicted

Nevada Lt. Gov. Krolicki Indicted

It has been 18 months in the waiting, but now Nevada's Lieutenant Governor has been indicted for allegedly misusing hundreds of thousands of dollars meant to help students reach college.

The I-Team has been following this case since the very beginning in Carson City.

It could be up to 16 years in prison for Lieutenant Governor Brian Krolicki. This all stems from when Krolicki was Nevada State Treasurer. He was in charge of the college savings program.

Now the AG says Krolicki went above the law to spend hundreds of thousands of dollars and he did not tell the state or lawmakers know what was going on.

Read a copy of the indictment

In all, Krolicki faces four category D felonies for misappropriation and falsification of accounts. His chief of staff, Kathryn Besser faces two counts herself for aiding and abetting.

The AG's Office says Krolicki took the money from marketing funds and state-use fees and did not allow a full, open account of what it was being used for. They say student and parent money is totally safe and has been accounted for -- Krolicki allegedly only used extra funds.

All along he has told the I-Team this has been a clerical error and a mistake by others. He also said it's politically motivated because he is a Republican.

Conrad Hafen, the Chief Deputy AG, said they have enough proof to show Krolicki intended to use this money inappropriately, "There's three separate ways that we can prove that he violated the statutes -- he either knowingly did it, willfully did it or fraudulently did it."

This all comes at a tough time for Krolicki. He said just weeks ago he plans to challenge Senator Harry Reid for a seat in Washington. It also casts a shadow over next week's expected special session. Krolicki will preside over the Senate during that time in Carson City.

His first court appearance isn't until December 18, 2008.