LAS VEGAS, Dec. 3  -- A Republican seeking to unseat U. S. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., has been indicted by a state grand jury, officials said.

Nevada Lt. Gov. Brian Krolicki, the first Republican to announce he was mounting a challenge of Reid and considered a viable candidate, was indicted on four counts of misappropriation and falsification of public records, The Hill reported Wednesday. He is accused of committing the crimes while he was state treasurer.

Krolicki's then-chief of staff, Kathryn Besser, also was indicted in the case, which involves the treasurer's office allegedly bypassing budget controls on a statewide college savings program.

Krolicki faces a maximum of 16 years in prison if convicted on the counts. He told reporters he had been advised of the pending indictment in late November.

He called the indictment part of a "witch hunt" by Nevada Attorney General Catherine Cortez Masto, a Democrat. (UPI)