Fired Port Arthur Police Detective Mickey Sterling took the stand during day one of the continuance of an arbitration hearing that started in November but resumed Tuesday.

Sterling, 60, fielded questions regarding his usage of a law enforcement database called TLO for personal reasons and lying to an investigator.

Sterling served with the Port Arthur Police Department since January 1998. In June 2017 Sterling was fired on charges of obstruction of justice or retaliation and misuse of official information and official oppression relating to the investigation into the 2015 disappearance of Joseph Gauthier, whose truck was found atop the Rainbow Bridge.

Gauthier’s disappearance was first labeled a suicide but his body was never located even after searches by the U.S. Coast Guard, Texas Equusearch and a private investigator.

The private attorney representing the city in Tuesday’s hearing, Bettye Lynn of Lynn Ross & Gangway LLP of Fort Worth, quizzed Sterling about:

• Carol Gauthier, whose husband’s disappearance remains under investigation.
• Implied illegal searches of his ex-wife, Margie Conner, and her current husband.
• Implied illegal searches of his ex-girlfriend Angela Ashcraft.

Although Sterling was involved in the highly publicized Gauthier investigation, much of Tuesday’s questioning involved his alleged use of department equipment for personal matters involving his ex-wife and his ex-girlfriend.

 

In response to Lynn’s questionss, he explained he had had instances where he was a victim of credit card abuse and fraud and his private searches were related to that.

“Did Ms. Ashcraft ever file a formal police report on her fears that her identity was stolen and justify you running her on the TLO?” Lynn asked.

Sterling answered ‘no.’

Lynn pushed the issue further, asking if it is fair to say he ran some freelance searches unrelated to police business.

“We conduct criminal investigations all of the time. By the laws of the state of Texas we have a duty to investigate a crime based on reasonable suspicion,” Sterling said.

Sterling said he did not use the TLO on his ex-wife or ex-girlfriend for personal reasons.

Contention arose over an offense report where Sterling was the victim of credit card abuse and fraud that was later signed by now-resigned Sgt. Scott Gaspard after the fact. Lt. Troy LeBouef, a supervisor, stated he was aware that Gaspard changed the document and had a discussion with Gaspard regarding the issue.

When a victim files a police report there is a review of the document and an officer usually signs off. This instance was different; Sterling is an officer and filed his own report and a fellow officer went behind him and provided his signature.

The hearing will continue at 9 a.m. Wednesday on the fifth floor of Port Arthur City Hall.