Ex-officer may lose license over hot-tub parties

WEBSTER GROVES, Mo. -- A state administrative panel has found that a former police officer from this St. Louis suburb committed gross misconduct for participating in nude hot-tub parties involving three fellow officers and two teen-age girls.

The Missouri Administrative Hearing Commission in Jefferson City ruled Friday against Paul Ponder. Ponder, 43, now faces a hearing meant to determine whether he permanently surrenders his police officer's certification, KSDK-TV of St. Louis has reported.

In January, the state revoked the license of former officer Steven Ceriotti, permanently barring that 32-year-old man from working as a police officer in Missouri. Hearings for two other former local officers have been held, though the commission has not yet ruled in their cases.

Webster Groves fired three of the officers and a fourth resigned over allegations that they had improper relationships with two teen-age girls.

St. Louis County prosecutors said they found no grounds for criminal charges.