Adams County District Attorney Don Quick will decide shortly whether criminal charges are warranted in connection with Jefferson County officials spending public money to conduct surveillance and other spy work on citizens and former employees, a spokesman said last week.

Mike Goodbee, an assistant DA in Adams County, said Friday he has finalized a report to Quick outlining the results of a Colorado Bureau of Investigation investigation into Jeffco officials — a report that includes recommendations based on the CBI inquiry.

Goodbee said that as soon as Quick has an opportunity to review his recommendations, a decision will be made about whether charges will be filed. Quick is acting as a special prosecutor at the request of Jeffco DA Scott Storey.

The potential charges could include that one or more of the county commissioners misused more than $7,400 of public money last year when the board authorized payments to a private investigator who is a friend of Republican Commissioner Jim Congrove.

Goodbee did not indicate which direction the investigation appears to be taking, but said a formal decision could come as early as this week.

The county has not been able to provide most of the detailed billing and work products created during the 16-month period Jeffco paid for the private eye.