State Public Regulation Commissioner Jerome Block Jr. spent 22 minutes at the Santa Fe County Jail on Thursday, apparently after he was ordered to surrender and undergo fingerprinting in connection with the elections embezzlement case against him.

Detention Center records show Block Jr. spent less than a half hour in the center and that his father, Jerome Block Sr., who also faces charges in the case, was in the jail south of Santa Fe from 10:54 a.m. to 12:19 p.m. on Tuesday.

Both were released without bond.

Recent court filings in the court case against Block Jr. show an order of release included temporarily surrendering to the custody of the Santa Fe County sheriff and undergoing fingerprinting.

A grand jury in April indicted the recently elected commissioner on eight counts while his father, a former member of the body that regulates utilities, insurance and other industries, was indicted on four counts.

Block Jr. has paid penalties to the secretary of state for lying on a campaign-finance report and misusing public funds.

Charges against the younger Block include two counts of embezzlement over $500 but not more than $2,500. Charges against both Blocks include election-code violations, conspiracy to commit a violation of the elections code, tampering with evidence and conspiracy to commit tampering with evidence.

Both have pleaded not guilty in the case, which is scheduled to go to trial this fall.

Contact Kate Nash at 986-3036 or knash@sfnewmexican.com. Read her blog at www.greenchilechatter.com.