Bruce appears in Denver court

Anti-tax crusader Douglas Bruce appeared before a state judge Monday to answer an indictment that he's not guilty of several tax-related charges filed against him by a state grand jury.

As Colorado Springs Gazette reporter John Schroyer reports on his blog, Second Reading, the Colorado Springs resident told the judge he did nothing wrong.

Bruce, a former El Paso County commission who served one year in the Colorado House, called the charges politically motivated by Attorney General John Suthers. Both men are Republican.

Bruce faces charges of evasion of taxes, a class-five felony; filing a false tax return, a class-five felony; attempt to influence a public servant, a class-four felony; and failure to file a return or pay a tax, a misdemeanor offense. Bruce could face up to six years in prison or up to $500,000 in fines if convicted of the most serious charge, attempting to influence a public servant, a class-four felony.

He is to appear in court again in June.