By Christin Coyne
CNHI
MINERAL WELLS — The second arson suspect was released Saturday from the Parker County jail after posting $50,000 bond on a charge of arson.
Like former Mineral Wells patrolman John Gore, official records for alleged arson accomplice Jeff Gulley show no issues during his time working as a patrol officer for Ranger in late 2006 and 2007.
Current Ranger Police Chief Elton McCoy, who was not with the department at the time, said Gulley's personnel records indicate Gulley resigned in good standing to pursue another job in June 2007 and show no record of write-ups during his several months on the Ranger police force.
Gulley – along with Gore, who faces four counts of arson – held a valid peace officer license in the state when he was arrested Thursday on a charge of arson. Gulley also holds a temporary jailer license from the state.
Warden Ron King of Community Education Centers, the contracting company managing the Parker County jail, confirmed Monday that Gulley worked as a jailer in Parker County between June and September and was not rehireable when he left.
Before receiving a temporary jailers license from the state, Gulley would have had to pass a college entrance exam, a psychological exam and a physical exam, according to King.
Gulley also worked as a correctional officer with Corrections Corporation of America at the Mineral Wells pre-parole facility between November 2008 and December 2009, CCA spokesperson Maria White confirmed Monday.
Fellow officers who worked with Gore expressed surprise last week at his arrest.
Police Chief Mike McAllester said Gore had never been disciplined and was a model officer.
McAllester said they are investigating fires as far back as 2001.
Gore and Gulley are reported to be close friends and have known each other since they attended school together.
Gore was charged with three counts of arson Tuesday after he was stopped by a Mineral Wells patrol officer near three suspicious fires in the Wolters Industrial Park area and questioned.
During the initial interview, Gore reportedly provided information about seven fires, including the three fires Tuesday, and provided information about a second suspect, according to police.
Parker County officials reported Gore confessed to starting a fire Feb. 3 which destroyed a two-story storage building and implicated Gulley.
During two interviews with the Parker County Fire Marshal's office last week, Gulley allegedly “exposed his involvement in the Feb. 3 arson” and confessed to being involved with two other fires, a grass fire and a structure fire that did not fully ignite.
Gulley was arrested Thursday afternoon on one count of arson and Gore was charged with a fourth count of arson.
Gore posted $100,000 bond and was released Thursday from the Palo Pinto County Jail.
