Jury reaches verdict in aggravated sodomy trial of former Harris County deputy

A nine-woman, three-man Harris County Superior Court jury on Wednesday found a former sheriff’s deputy not guilty on aggravated sodomy, but guilty on a variety of other charges.

The jury deliberated about seven hours over two days in deciding the fate of Thomas Carl Pierson. Three women had accused him of inappropriate actions during traffic stops in 2015 and 2016. One of the women said that Pierson forced her to perform oral sex on him during a Feb. 14, 2016 stop.

Pierson faced 12 charges that the jury had to decide. The decision came after four days of testimony where all three victims took the stand, as did Pierson. They also saw multiple dash-cam videos from Pierson’s patrol vehicle.

The verdict was read just before noon by Superior Court Judge Bobby Peters. The judge delayed the sentencing.

The verdict is as follows:

▪  Count 1: NOT GUILTY. Aggravated sodomy related to a Feb. 14, 2016 traffic stop in which Pierson is accused of forcing a female motorist to perform oral sex on him. Pierson took the witness stand on Monday and described a consensual act. The woman testified last week that the deputy forced her to perform oral sex.

It is a felony that carries a punishment of a minimum of 25 years in prison up to life.

▪  Counts 2 and 4: GUILTY. Two counts of sexual assault on a person in custody related to the same traffic stop. The prosecution did not have to prove that either act was consensual, only that they happened. One charge relates to touching the woman’s breast and the other involves the oral sex. The defense argued that the woman was not in custody, in part because Pierson turned off his blue lights and she followed his patrol vehicle down a dirt road. The woman told the jury she felt obligated to follow him because of his position and the fact it was a traffic stop.

It is a felony that carries a punishment of 1 to 25 years in prison and a fine of up to $100,000 on each count.

▪  Count 3: NOT GUILTY. Sexual battery related to the same traffic stop in which the officer is accused of touching, pinching and twisting the woman’s breast. The woman testified that is what Pierson did, while the defense asserted the actions were consensual.

It is a misdemeanor that carries a punishment of up to 12 months in jail and up to a $5,000 fine.

▪  Count 5: GUILTY. False imprisonment related to the same traffic stops. Pierson pulled the woman over and conducted a lengthy stop in which there was flirting on both sides. He told the woman if she wanted to continue, to turn down a road. She did not turn, and he used his blue light to pull her over about five miles down Ga. 85.

It is a felony that carries a punishment of 1 to 10 years in prison.

▪  Count 6: GUILTY. Tampering with evidence related to the same traffic stop. Pierson turned off his body microphone and the dash camera early in the second stop. The prosecution argued that, under Georgia law, he destroyed evidence by turning off the devices. The defense argued it was not evidence because it had yet to be collected.

It is a misdemeanor that carries a punishment of up to 12 months in jail and up to a $1,000 fine.

▪  Counts 7 and 8: GUILTY ON BOTH COUNTS. Two counts of violation of public oath stemming from the same traffic stops on Feb. 14, 2016. The prosecution argued that Pierson’s actions as seen on the videos introduced in the case constituted violation of oath. The defense, using a technicality, admitted Pierson was in violation of his oath, but should not be held accountable because the former deputy had not signed the oath, which was given verbally, and that signature was not properly recorded.

It is a felony that carries a punishment of 1 to 5 years in prison on each count.

▪  Count 9: NOT GUILTY. Stalking stemming from traffic stop on Oct. 19, 2015. After the more than 40-minute stop in which the conversation was inappropriate, Pierson showed up at the woman’s house the next day. It is a misdemeanor that carries a punishment of up to 12 months in jail.

▪  Count 10: GUILTY. Violation of public oath related to the Oct. 19 traffic stop. The defense argued the same technicality used in three similar charges.

It is a felony that carries a punishment of 1 to 5 years in prison.

▪ Count 11: NOT GUILTY. Stalking stemming from traffic stop on Sept 12, 2015. After the nearly 25-minute stop in which the conversation was inappropriate, Pierson showed up in front of a home owned by one of the woman’s relatives later the same day.

It is a misdemeanor that carries a punishment of up to 12 months in jail.

▪  Count 12: GUILTY. Violation of public oath related to the Sept. 12 traffic stop. The defense argued the same technicality used in three similar charges.

It is a felony that carries a punishment of 1 to 5 years in prison.

This story was originally published August 30, 2017 at 11:55 AM with the headline "Jury reaches verdict in aggravated sodomy trial of former Harris County deputy."