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SALT LAKE CITY — There has been no resolution in the case against former Cottonwood Heights police officer Beau Babka.
Obviously we'd like to see the case resolved in a fair manner, but Mr. Babka is ready to go forward if necessary, and that's where we are now.
–Rebecca Skordas, defense attorney
#skordas_quote
Though attorneys had indicated they were close to reaching a plea agreement at previous hearings, Babka's attorney, Rebecca Skordas, requested instead that a preliminary hearing be scheduled in the misuse of public funds case, thus moving the case closer to trial. The hearing, in which prosecutors will present their evidence, is slated for May 12.
Skordas said there is always room for additional conversation on how to proceed, but a satisfactory resolution has not been found.
"Obviously we'd like to see the case resolved in a fair manner, but Mr. Babka is ready to go forward if necessary, and that's where we are now," she said.
Skordas said Babka is doing "as well as can be expected."
"This is a man who has dedicated a large portion of his life to law enforcement, was very well-respected," she said. "This is hard for him."
Babka, 48, has been charged with two counts of misuse of public funds, a third-degree felony, after being accused of using his city-issued gas card to put fuel in his personal vehicles.
A Cottonwood Heights audit allegedly showed that Babka used a Cottonwood Heights police department credit card to fuel up a pair of personal vehicles — one purchase was $22.67, the other $25.50.
Babka told investigators he was left "financially destitute" following his bid for sheriff. He lost that race, as well as his 2004 run for Congress. A law enforcement veteran of almost 20 years, Babka served as both the police chief of South Salt Lake and as undersheriff to current Salt Lake County Sheriff Jim Winder.
The maximum penalty for a third-degree felony is zero to five years in prison and up to a $5,000 fine.
E-mail:emorgan@ksl.com
