Krolicki appears in court

Nevada's lieutenant governor has pleaded not guilty to four felony charges accusing him of mishandling funds when he was state treasurer.

Republican Brian Krolicki, a Stateline resident and former Douglas County planning commissioner, appeared today in Clark County District Court in Las Vegas. He was indicted this month on charges of misappropriation and falsification of accounts.

The charges arose from a 2007 audit of a multibillion-dollar college savings program. Auditors found Krolicki skirted budget controls and spent more on advertising than was allotted by the Legislature. No money is missing.

Krolicki is considering a 2010 race against Democratic U.S. Sen. Harry Reid. Krolicki says the charges are politically motivated.