Former Butler County Commissioner Dale Pinkerton testified Monday that former county Commissioner Jim Eckstein, who Pinkerton is suing for defamation, has sufficient self-control to not smear others.

“I believe Mr. Eckstein can control himself,” Pinkerton said in county court.

Eckstein is accused of perpetuating the rumor that Pinkerton gave county human resources director Lori Altman an extra 20 percent pay hike in 2011 in exchange for Pinkerton not being charged for a drunken driving pullover.

Altman's husband, Scott Altman, is a Butler state trooper.

Pinkerton said Eckstein orchestrates outbursts by planning ahead what he's going to say.

“I believe he knows exactly what he's doing to get the effect he wants,” Pinkerton said. “I watched him enough to know.”

Attorney Timothy Wojton, who represents Eckstein, posed a line of questioning trying to get Pinkerton to say the opposite about his client.

Earlier in the day, Wojton made that point when questioning Scott Altman. The attorney pointed out Altman used the word “rambling” when referring to Eckstein speaking at commissioner meetings.

“That's the way I describe how he speaks,” Altman said.

Wojton followed up on that comment.

“He talks and talks and you don't really know what he says,” Wojton said about Eckstein.

Pinkerton and the Altmans are suing Eckstein in two separate lawsuits being tried simultaneously in court.

Wojton emphasized that Eckstein did not speak about the rumor before a state attorney general's office investigation began. The state found no evidence of wrongdoing.

According to Wojton, Eckstein did not bring up the rumor when he protested Altman's 2011 pay raise.

“This from a man who can't keep his mouth shut,” Wojton said. “He doesn't accuse anybody of anything.”

During his time on the stand, Pinkerton stressed he never had a DUI stop, but he would not have tried to cover it up if he had.

“I would not even attempt to do something like that,” he said.

Pinkerton said he would not ask someone to jeopardize his or her job to bail him out.

“I would have accepted the penalty,” he said.

Pinkerton recalled hearing about the rumor the first time.

“It made me sick to my stomach,” he said.

Pinkerton talked about the rumor's adverse impact on his life, citing significant health issues caused by stress and loss of a good standing in the community.

“I want people to know what's been said is not true,” he said.

Wojton confirmed by questioning that Pinkerton did not lose his membership in any civic organizations as a result of the rumor.

As with Scott Altman earlier, Pinkerton said all he wanted financially was to recoup his legal expenses.

Pinkerton's wife, Millie Pinkerton, also testified about her husband's stress increasing and health deteriorating.

“It was not fun to watch,” she said.

Millie Pinkerton said once the rumor was spread, the couple encountered it everywhere.

“The conversation would stop,” she said. “You knew what they were talking about.”

Millie Pinkerton said other times, people would broach the topic at places such as the grocery store.

“It never went away,” she said.

Millie Pinkerton seemed to struggle a couple times to give testimony, trying to hold back her emotions.

Scott Altman also testified about the impact on his and his wife's lives.

“It's extremely disappointing and upsetting,” he said.

Altman said his wife often came home crying. He testified he didn't seek professional counseling.

“To do so would change my duty status,” he said.

Altman said he also encountered remarks and jokes wherever he went because he wears a name badge while in uniform.

He spoke about undergoing a state police internal investigation due to the rumor.

“I'm required to bring it to their attention,” Altman said. “I was completely cleared by the department.”

He testified he has received no commendations since that investigation, but conceded none of his prior ones were rescinded.

Following Dale Pinkerton's testimony, the prosecution rested its case.

A lengthy private conference between the attorneys for all parties and presiding Judge Kelley Streib then occurred.

“We were doing some important housekeeping,” Streib said to the jury.

Court was adjourned before the defense could call any witnesses. Testimony resumed today.