A former police officer has pleaded guilty to felony assault when he pulled out a gun while off-duty in Pacific Beach while standing in line to get inside a bar.

The sentencing of Trevor Sterling, 35, will be in a San Diego County Veterans Treatment Court if he is found eligible because of previous post-trauma stress disorder from his military service in Afghanistan and alcohol abuse.

Sterling may go through an 18-24 month program if he meets certain criteria and the felony conviction could be reduced to a misdemeanor. It could also be expunged from his record.

The program is designed to help veterans avoid jail, but veterans must show a link between the crime and treatment needed after serving in the military.

Sterling was arrested after the July 31, 2021, incident, and was suspended without pay, but later resigned from San Diego Police. The firearm he pulled out was a personal firearm and not a service weapon.

Deputy District Attorney Frederick Washington Jr. said if Sterling is found to be ineligible for Veterans Court, he will appear before San Diego Superior Court Judge Rachel Cano for sentencing on April 4.

Several witnesses testified at a Nov. 29, 2021, preliminary hearing that Sterling appeared to be intoxicated while standing in line to get inside Moonshine Beach on Garnet Avenue before midnight on July 31. They said he pulled out a firearm from his pants, although not everyone saw it.

His attorney, Patrick Griffin, argued at a previous hearing that his client “saw some of the heaviest combat” while as a U.S. Marine platoon leader in Afghanistan. “He saw a lot of friends die,” said Griffin, who added that he developed post-traumatic stress disorder.

“His life has been remarkable,” said Griffin. “He shouldn’t be defined by this one moment.”

Griffin said Sterling didn’t point the gun at anyone and was not threatening anyone. He said that moment basically came down to “bragging…here’s my toy.”

Another judge denied Griffin’s motion to reduce the offense to a misdemeanor and he was ordered to stand trial for felony assault with a deadly weapon and exhibiting a weapon in a rude or threatening manner. The latter charge was later dismissed.

Sterling remains free on $50,000 bond and is in a treatment program with the Veteran’s Administration, said his attorney.