Associated Press - June 15, 2009 1:54 PM ET

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) - No criminal charges will be filed against former Shawnee County District Attorney Robert Hecht over payments he received for work on appeals cases.

The Topeka Capital-Journal reports on its Web site that the Kansas attorney general's office said Monday that Hecht was authorized to receive compensation for his appeals work.

Shawnee County commissioners were trying to force Hecht to return $482,895 the county paid him for the appeals work, saying the payments were "unreasonable and excessive.

Monday's ruling does not end the matter. The attorney general's office said the ultimate issue is whether the payments were excessive, and a civil lawsuit filed by Shawnee County may resolve that issue.

Information from: The Topeka Capital-Journal, http://www.cjonline.com

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