Wednesday, July 22, 1998

Man denies discouraging testimony against Cowboys' Michael Irvin

By Michael Saul

The Dallas Morning News

(KRT)

DALLAS - A former topless dancer testified Tuesday that a Dallas attorney gave her four blank checks to finance a trip to help her avoid testifying against Dallas Cowboys' wide receiver Michael Irvin in his 1996 drug trial.

Thomas B. Arnold, 48, is charged with coercing Amber Gatcomb, 23, to evade a state subpoena to testify in the player's cocaine possession trial. If convicted, Arnold could face a maximum sentence of two years in jail and a $10,000 fine.

The attorney representing Arnold, Richard J. Corbitt, said Gatcomb's testimony under cross-examination lacked credibility. Arnold has denied any wrongdoing.

As she wiped her eyes, Gatcomb outlined for the jury her relationships with Irvin and Arnold. In July 1996, Irvin pleaded no contest to felony cocaine possession in exchange for four years' probation.

During one of her first outings with Irvin, Gatcomb testified, she saw the player use drugs and have sex with another woman. She said she could not remember a time when she saw Irvin during which "excessive amounts of drugs" were not involved.

Gatcomb said Irvin introduced her to cocaine and then financed her addiction. She described one instance in which Irvin gave her $600 to buy cocaine for him because he was too drugged to make the purchase himself.

In 1996, when she began distancing herself from Irvin, Gatcomb testified, she began to rely on Arnold, whom she had met at a topless bar.

She started working for Arnold in May of that year, she testified. She said he asked her to help him with a tax audit and an invitation list for a party. But their relationship centered on long lunches and cocaine use, she said.

She told the jurors in state District Judge Gerry Meier's court that Arnold was the one who persuaded her to flee the area when it became apparent that Dallas County prosecutors were interested in her testimony in the Irvin trial.

She said Arnold told her that she had to leave Dallas because her testimony would expose their relationship, hurt his law firm and potentially jeopardize his marriage. He also told her that Irvin might attempt to kill her and make it seem like a crazed Cowboys' fan committed the crime, she testified.

Arnold also threatened to discontinue financial support if she didn't flee, she said.

"I thought all this harm was coming to me, and I was going to be killed and my parents were going to find out who I was involved with," she said.

She told the jury that she fled to South Texas and eventually to Miami before returning to Dallas.

"I was scared I was going to be found," she said. "I was scared something was going to happen to me."

When authorities first approached her about Irvin, she said, she was willing to testify and believed she had no choice in the matter. But, she said, Arnold convinced her that she needed to avoid a state subpoena.

Corbitt said he believes Gatcomb may prove to be the defense's best witness.

"I believe the cross-examination of Gatcomb established without a doubt that she lacked credibility to be believed," he said.

Asked to cite an example in which Gatcomb was caught in a lie, Corbitt did not provide one.

During testimony later in the day, Tommy Hale, an investigator with the district attorney's office, told the jury that Arnold appeared troubled by the prospect of Gatcomb's testifying.

"He said he was very concerned about her being called to testify because of the heat and media it would bring down on his firm," Hale said.

Testimony is scheduled to resume Wednesday.

(c) 1998, The Dallas Morning News.

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