DENVER -- A former Jefferson County official faces charges of felony theft, embezzlement of public property and official misconduct after admitting using a county credit card for gambling.

Jennifer Simmerman, 44 (pictured, left), posted a $5,000 bond Monday and will appear in court March 20.

Simmerman is alleged to have run up for the $52,000 in unauthorized charges when she worked a county human resources director.

The criminal investigation follows an internal investigation by the county administration and an outside auditor. That investigation began after acting county administrator Dan Brindle questioned a number of Simmerman's expenditures, including the nearly $19,000 spent at King Soopers stores between Jan. 5 and June 14.

According to the arrest warrant, Simmerman admitted to investigators that she would buy gift certificates at King Soopers and Safeway stores with her county credit card. The certificates were to be used as employee rewards, but were never handed out, the warrant said. Simmerman would then get cash-back refunds and deposit the money in her bank accounts, according to the warrant.

Prosecutors allege that Simmerman, who lives in Thornton, ran up $32,000 in charges at grocery stores in Federal Heights, Golden, Arvada, Greenwood Village, Highlands Ranch, Broomfield, Denver, Littleton and Englewood during a three-year period.

Simmerman wagered $2.8 million over a three-year period in Colorado casinos, according to the arrest affidavit. Investigators said she cashed out just over $1.9 million, losing $900,000.

"I'm sure that when all the facts are known in this difficult case, justice will be done," said Craig Truman, Simmerman's attorney.