Former Oak Ridge police officer Zachary Gauthier has admitted to a long list of on-the-job misconduct, pleading guilty Monday to 23 counts of official misconduct in Anderson County. Prosecutors say the case centers on allegations that he tapped into law-enforcement databases and surveillance tools for personal reasons while he was still wearing the badge.
Terms of the plea agreement
Under the plea deal, Gauthier received a two-year sentence on each count, with much of that time suspended to supervised probation. The judgment also orders 48 hours of incarceration on each count, to be served locally. The agreement requires him to surrender his Tennessee Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) certification, undergo a court-ordered mental-health assessment and follow any recommended treatment, avoid contact with identified victims and witnesses, and pay court costs. According to WATE, he could be eligible for judicial diversion that would allow expunction.
Indictment and department response
The case started when the Oak Ridge Police Department pushed internal complaints to the district attorney, and an Anderson County grand jury returned indictments in July 2025. Grand-jury filings alleged that Gauthier accessed Accurint, the State Link system, and the Flock license-plate network for personal use. The department fired him on April 24, 2025, as reported by WVLT; Hoodline earlier covered the 23-count indictment last summer.
DA reaction
District Attorney General Dave Clark, who prosecuted the case, called the search for a fitting punishment "a difficult balance to strike" and said the plea is meant to combine accountability with oversight and treatment, according to WATE. His comments underscore how tricky it can be to sentence former public servants who crossed the line while in office.
Legal context
Under Tennessee law, official misconduct is a Class E felony, an offense that can bring one to six years in prison and that often gives courts room to impose suspended time and probation instead of lengthy incarceration. Tennessee’s judicial diversion statute allows a court to pause proceedings and place a qualified defendant on probation, with the possibility of dismissal and expunction if they successfully complete the terms. Eligibility is limited and requires certification from the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation. For the statutory language and qualifying rules, see Tenn. Code § 39-16-402 and Tenn. Code § 40-35-313.
