You’d think one, or at least two, arrests would teach people that crime is a bad decision because prison is an unpleasant place where one does not want to end up. Apparently not, as a Texas man just got his third strike for spitting at cops and now is going to spend 70 long years in jail.
That man is named Larry Pearson. 36 years old, he’ll now spend what’s almost certain to be the rest of his life in prison. That sentence came on Wednesday when a jury found him guilty of two counts of harassment of a public servant after he was arrested for spitting at police officers during a domestic dispute and sentenced him to 70 years in prison.
Pearson was arrested in May 2022 by Lubbock police officers. His victim flagged down the cops and alleged that Pearson both possessed a firearm and had hit her several times. The firearm turned out to be a pellet gun, but the victim had been injured and officers noted the injuries on the victim’s face.
Officers then attempted to take Pearson into custody, but he started spitting at the officers and kicking the door of the patrol car. He eventually stopped kicking the car, but continued spitting at them until the arrived at the Lubbock County Detention Center.
During the trial, Prosecutor Jessica Gorman encouraged the jury to send a message to Pearson and society that crime will be treated seriously, particularly for repeat offenders like Pearson. As Everything Lubbock reported:
During closing arguments of the sentencing phase of Pearson’s trial, Gorman asked the jury to consider a number that would “send a message” to Pearson and society. Gorman told EverythingLubbock.com that Pearson had prior convictions of aggravated robbery and continuous family violence. Due to those convictions, the minimum sentence Pearson could have received would’ve been 25 years.
Continuing, Gorman said during her closing argument that, “If you’re going to live the life of crime, you’re going to do that among other criminals [in prison].” Defense Attorney Jim Shaw tried to push back on that and get the jury to be merciful by telling it that Pearson had been arrested and the sentencing was for a “simple misdemeanor” in a circumstance that got “out of control.”
The jury evidently agreed with Gorman instead of Shaw, as it handed down the 70 year sentence on Wednesday. So, even with parole or like attempts to be merciful to jailbirds, Pearson is going to be behind bars for a long, long time.
The Texas jury’s resolve and tough on crime decision stands in stark contrast to how woke, Soros-backed prosecutors in blue states let repeat, violent criminals off with a slap on the wrist despite their horrific, repeated crimes against civilized society.
Featured image credit: Lubbock PD
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