Witness Had Motive to Testify Against Mecham, Judge Says

The judge presiding over Gov. Evan Mecham’s impeachment trial told Mecham’s lawyer Tuesday that he had shown the state’s top law officer “had a motive to testify against the governor” and ordered him to move on to other topics.

Arizona Supreme Court Justice Frank X. Gordon, who earlier fielded objections to questions focusing on the witness’ sex life, said he would allow no further testimony on the personal life or motives of Director Ralph Milstead of the Public Safety Department, a key witness against Mecham on an obstruction of justice charge.

“You have made your point,” Gordon told attorney Fred Craft as he concluded a two-day cross-examination of Milstead.

“You have established that Director Milstead had a motive for testifying against the governor,” Gordon said, “that he had a high-paying job with more than a modicum of influence and with a number of perks.”

Faced Firing by Mecham

He said it was clear that Mecham had planned to fire Milstead and, “presumably Col. Milstead wants to keep his job.”

Gordon’s ruling derailed an announced defense plan to call a parade of witnesses to challenge Milstead’s credibility.

“This witness is the accuser of the governor,” attorney Jerris Leonard told the Senate shortly before Gordon’s announcement. “What we are doing is asking questions to lay the foundation for future witnesses to impeach his credibility.”

Prosecutor Paul Eckstein told reporters outside the hearing room that the judge’s ruling will bar the defense from calling to the stand a woman who the defense claims was Milstead’s lover.

Craft’s questioning drew repeated protests from the prosecutors that he was using innuendo to delve into the sex life of Milstead. The subject had been ruled off limits by Gordon earlier.

The governor is accused of ordering Milstead not to help the attorney general investigate an alleged death threat to a grand jury witness by a Mecham aide.

Mecham has acknowledged he may have given such instructions to Milstead but says he was not fully informed about the situation. Milstead has said he cooperated with the attorney general’s office.

Craft was interrupted several times by objections from House prosector William French as he tried to delve into the relationship between Milstead and a one-time safety department informant, Christina Juell Johnston.

Milstead said they had a professional relationship, adding: “I counted her as a friend.” But he denied that he escorted her on dates in his state vehicle or paid for her meals out of state funds.

Craft had previously asked: “Did you ever travel to Mrs. Christina Juell Johnston’s home in your state vehicle?”

“I believe I did, yes,” Milstead said.

“Did you ever stay overnight at Mrs. Christina Juell Johnston’s home with your state vehicle?” Craft asked.

“No, I did not,” Milstead said.

Besides charges of obstructing the attorney general’s investigation, Mecham is accused in the impeachment trial of concealing a $350,000 campaign loan and misusing $80,000 in a state fund by lending it to his car dealership.