Prosecutors filed charges Wednesday against a Carbon County sheriff's captain for allegedly using a car key or other instrument to scratch three government-owned vehicles last month at a South Salt Lake auto repair business.

Carbon County sheriff's Capt. Guy Adams, 44, was charged in 3rd District Court with two class A misdemeanor counts of criminal mischief causing intentional damage to property and one class B misdemeanor of criminal mischief causing intentional damage to property.

On Jan. 6, Adam's patrol vehicle was being worked on at the business. While Carbon County Sheriff James Cordova and Adams waited for the repairs to be made, Adams went to the back of the lot for a smoke break, according to police reports.

After Cordova and Adams left, employees noticed damage "indicative of being keyed or intentionally scratched" to three vehicles parked behind the business, the police report states.

Adams has been on paid administrative leave while Cordova's office conducts an internal investigation into potential policy violations.

Adam's initial appearance is scheduled on April 16.

Cordova was unavailable for comment Wednesday.

cimaron@sltrib.com

Twitter: @CimCity