Ginnie Kontnik, the one-time chief of staff to former Sen. Ben Nighthorse Campbell, faces a single misdemeanor charge in connection with a three-year investigation that began shortly before the senator's surprise retirement decision in 2004.

Court records indicate she will enter a guilty plea and the government will not seek jail time in the case.

Kontnik served as Campbell's chief of staff from shortly after his party switch from Democrat to Republican in 1995 until February 2004, when she resigned amid published reports that she asked an underling to give her $2,000 from an inflated bonus she had given him.

The U.S. Department of Justice's Public Integrity section soon launched an investigation. Amid media reports about Kontnik's troubles, Campbell abruptly ended his 2004 re-election bid, citing health concerns and a desire to spend more time with his family.

Last Friday, the department filed a single misdemeanor charge against Kontnik in U.S. District Court in Denver, accusing her of making a false statement in a Public Financial Disclosure Report for calendar year 2002.

According to the court filing, she certified that her financial disclosure report was "true, complete and correct to the best of (her) knowledge." However, according to the charge, she falsely certified "that she had not received any reportable gifts when, as defendant Kontnik well knew, she had received approximately $2,000 in cash from an employee whom she supervised."

Kontnik could not be reached for comment on Monday.

"All along he (Campbell) has had faith that justice would be served in the matter," Campbell chief of staff Dave Devendorf said.

Court documents showed the matter is set for a hearing Friday morning before Magistrate Michael E. Hegarty.