Peggy Taylor had faced a third-degree felony count of misuse of public funds. But, according to 7th District Court documents, that charge was reduced to a class A misdemeanor in a plea deal.

Judge Lyle Anderson accepted the guilty plea and set a Feb. 20 sentencing date. Taylor could face up to 12 months in jail and more than $4,600 in fines.

It remains unclear whether Taylor, who has been on paid leave, will be allowed to return as treasurer. State law requires that public officials guilty of a felony be removed from office. Although Taylor pleaded to a misdemeanor, she still could be barred from elected office.

"There were concerns that were raised with me after the fact that if she pled guilty to the attempt to commit a felony, she would still be disqualified from office," said Deputy Emery County Attorney W. Brent Langston, who prosecuted the case. "If I were to change the charge, that issue could be resolved."

Langston noted voters re-elected Taylor even though they were aware she faced a felony charge. The plea agreement was designed partly to allow her to continue in the job.

"All I looked at was the level of the offense," Langston said. "[Taylor's attorney] was looking at something that would allow her to keep her job. I agreed, as part of the criminal case, that I was not going to seek her disqualification from her position."

Taylor's attorney, Greg Skordas, said Wednesday he is working through those technicalities with Langston.

"It was everyone's intention that she be able to go back to work," Skordas said. "We're looking at whether there is a violation of the plea agreement, and whether we will have to withdraw it. I don't believe it will come to that."

Taylor can withdraw her guilty plea within 30 days of filing the agreement.

According to the plea papers, "the state agrees not to disqualify Peggy Taylor from her employment."

Skordas said the plea "speaks for itself."

"She accepts responsibility for what happened, and she recognizes that she should have been more careful. Hopefully, she'll be back to work after the first of the year."

Court documents do not divulge what led to Taylor's prosecution. But she has said the charge centered around a "mistake" related to county insurance benefits. Taylor said in September that she repaid all monies as soon as the issue was brought to her attention.

lchurch@citlink.net