Former Arapahoe County Sheriff Pat Sullivan has been charged with violating terms of his probation after testing positive for methamphetamine and alcohol, according to a court document.

Sullivan, 71, who was convicted in a meth-for-sex case in 2012, is also accused of leaving the state without permission from Jan. 25 to Feb. 5.

“On Feb. 6, the defendant acknowledged he made a bad choice in traveling out of state without permission,” according to a complaint for revocation of probation.

Sullivan also failed to provide required urine screens on numerous occasions since being sentenced to 38 days in jail and two years’ probation in 2012, according to the complaint. Most recently, he failed to provide drug screens on April 10.

He tested positive for meth use on Sept. 13 and Sept. 25, 2013, and on March 3, 2014. He tested positive for alcohol four times from April 30, 2012, to Aug. 8, 2013.

It is at least the third time that Sullivan has violated probation.

Probation for those with drug, alcohol or mental problems provides treatment options, said Rob McCallum, spokesman for the Colorado Judicial Department.

The program is designed to “get them back on track,” and there is no set number of failures that triggers a trip to the jail house, he said.

Sullivan has been summoned to appear before Arapahoe County District Court Judge William Blair Sylvester on Thursday to respond to the charges.

In March, after failing a urine screen, Sullivan and his probation officer agreed to extend his probationary period for three months so he could “comply with the conditions of supervision ordered by the court,” according to court documents.

Tom McGhee: 303-954-1671, tmcghee@denverpost.com or twitter.com/dpmcghee