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Guilty Plea In Adams County Paving Scandal

Written by Brian Maass

ADAMS COUNTY, Colo. (CBS4)- CBS4 has learned that a former manager with Quality Paving has pleaded guilty in connection with a paving scandal that allegedly overcharged Adams County by $1.8 million.

Heath Russo, 35, who oversaw chip sealing, slurry and surface additives for Quality Paving, pleaded guilty Thursday morning in Adams County Court to one count of felony theft and one misdemeanor theft count.

He will not go to jail but will get four years probation on the misdemeanor guilty plea and a deferred judgment on the felony charge. That means that if he stays out of trouble, the felony count will be dropped in four years.

The Adams County District Attorney's Office had originally charged Russo with 34 counts.

"He learned a terrible lesson through this," said Manuel Solano, Russo's attorney, when contacted by phone Thursday afternoon. "He was in the wrong place at the wrong time with the wrong people," said Solano.

The attorney noted that Russo had never had legal problems prior to this.

Russo admitted to changing invoices in 2007 according to Solano. Those altered invoices resulted in Adams County being overcharged or charged for work that never occurred. Solano said Russo made the changes at the direction of his boss at Quality Paving.

Russo is one of six people charged so far in the scandal. Four were employees of Quality Paving and two worked for Adams County Public Works. The investigation began in 2008. Quality Paving is now under new ownership.

Russo is the first person convicted in the scandal. His lawyer says Russo made no money from the invoice changes and 'fully cooperated' with law enforcement authorities in their investigation.

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