Leland “Lee” Asay, the former Adams County public works chief, pleaded guilty Tuesday to one count of theft stemming from the Quality Paving and Quality Resurfacing scandal.

The theft charge resulted from an incident on March 27, 2006, when he unlawfully used county staff and equipment for the paving company’s benefit.

As a part of the plea agreement, Asay will not stand trial, and in return, pleaded guilty to a count of theft and to pay an undetermined amount of restitution for all the criminal counts against him.

Krista Flannigan, Adams County District Attorney’s Office spokeswoman, said Asay faced a total of 26 criminal charges prior to his plea agreement, including 20 counts of felony theft, one felony count of embezzlement of public property, three felony counts of attempting to influence a public servant, one misdemeanor count of official misconduct and one misdemeanor count of theft.

In all, Judge Steven Eugene Shinn said Asay faces up to six years in prison, a $200,000 to $500,000 fine and three years of mandatory parole for theft of at least $500 but no less than $15,000.

Prior to his arrest in October 2011, Asay oversaw the contracting for road paving and resurfacing, as well as the use of county trucks and equipment from 1991 until his resignation in 2008.

The charges against Asay stem from criminal activity that occurred from 2005 to 2008.

Five employees of the county and Quality Paving and Quality Resurfacing have already been convicted or have pleaded guilty in connection with the scandal.

A Quality Paving office worker was cleared by a jury of 33 felony counts.

Charges resulted from incidents in which employees of the county and Quality Paving were involved in overbilling, billing for work never done and letting a private company use county equipment. The DA’s office alleges that taxpayers were billed for $1.8 million for work that was never done.

Asay is scheduled to be sentenced at 9:30 a.m. on Jan. 29.