A week after filing his first campaign finance report, House District 33 candidate Nick Kliebenstein, of Broomfield, is accused of violating campaign contribution limits.

A complaint filed with the Secretary of State’s office Monday by watch group Colorado Ethics Watch — formerly Colorado Citizens for Ethics in Government — alleged Kliebenstein accepted three $800 contributions in violation of the Colorado constitution.

Candidates are limited to accepting no more than $200 from individuals for primary and general elections — up to a total of $400 each.

Kliebenstein, the Republican candidate for the office now held by Rep. Dianne Primavera, D-Broomfield, said the contributions were listed erroneously as $800 from three individuals but they were actually six $400 donations by three husband and wife households.

His treasurer realized the error and amended the report the day after his Oct. 15 filing, which was done after business hours, he said.

“I recognize there was an error,” Kliebenstein said. “We took all the necessary measures we needed to correct it as soon as we could. We did nothing unethical. This was a mishap with the Web site.”

Secretary of State spokesman Richard Coolidge confirmed that Kliebenstein’s amended filing fell victim to a technical glitch, but didn’t know when the report originally was amended. The agency’s information technology department wasn’t able to update the documents — filed electronically — until shortly before 3 p.m. Monday.

“I think the timing is a little suspect,” said Colorado Ethics Watch Director Chantell Taylor, citing the original report filed the week before remained unchanged Monday morning. “Certainly if that’s what the amendments show, then that’s his strong defense.”

Taylor called the Secretary’s office at around 10 a.m. Monday to verify that Kliebenstein hadn’t filed a statement accepting voluntary campaign spending limits — such a document would double the amount of contributions Kliebenstein was allowed to receive from a single contributor.

When an employee confirmed he hadn’t, Taylor filed the complaint, she said.

At that time, Secretary of State records showed $800 contributions from Ironwood Construction owner Scott Kopplinger, of Firestone, Rex Oil Company CEO J. Leslie James, of Golden, and Rex Oil Company Vice President Paul James, of Littleton. The adjusted report now shows those individuals gave donations of $400 and three additional contributions — from Lisa Kopplinger, Juli James and Michele James — of $400 each.

The Secretary of State’s office will determine if is in violation of the law — if so, both parties will sit before an administrative law judge to attempt to resolve the matter, Coolidge said.

Taylor, who learned of the technical issues shortly before the Enterprise’s deadline Monday afternoon said her organization would likely reconsider the complaint if it received more information on the matter.

“Before withdrawing the complaint we’d have to see evidence that supports that,” she said. “Certainly if this was a technical problem then the complaint would not have merit and we would withdraw. We’d just need to see evidence of that.”