Larry Pearson, a man from Texas, was given 70 years in prison because he spat at two police officers when he was being arrested for domestic violence, know his criminal record
Pearson, who is 36 years old, was arrested for domestic violence after he reportedly hit a woman in the face several times, leaving her with many visible wounds.
Who is Texas man Larry Pearson sentenced to 70 years in prison for spitting at cops: Bio, age and criminal record
As Larry Pearson was being arrested, he allegedly started to kick the door of the police car and spat at two officers who opened the door to stop him. Everything Lubbock says that Pearson continued to spit at the police even after he was taken to the Lubbock County Detention Centre.
A Black man…
Larry Pearson got 70 yrs for spitting at police
Yet cops…
Amber Guyger got 10 yrs for murdering Botham Jean
Jason Van Dyke got 6 yrs for murdering Laquan McDonald
Derek Chauvin got 22 yrs for murdering George Floyd
America pic.twitter.com/lKC9HLNClt
— Bishop Talbert Swan (@TalbertSwan) April 14, 2023
Pearson was later found guilty of two counts of harassing a public worker. Because he had been convicted of aggravated robbery and family violence in the past, Larry Pearson had to serve at least 25 years in prison. During the closing arguments of the trial, the prosecutor Jessica Gorman asked the jurors to “send a message” to both the suspect and society with its sentence.
“If you’re going to live the life of crime, you’re going to do that among other criminals [in prison],” Gorman told the court, according to the media outlet.
Controversy surrounds 70 year sentence for nonviolent crime
Pearson’s lawyer, Jim Shaw, said that Larry Pearson was being punished for a “simple misdemeanour” that got out of hand. But in the end, the jury decided to give a sentence of 70 years. The case has caused a lot of talk, and people are asking if the sentence was fair. Critics say that the sentence is too harsh for a nonviolent crime and that it hurts people of colour more than white people.
After spitting on officers in Tx, 36 year old Larry Pearson was found guilty of 2 counts of Harassment of a Public Official.
Jurors were asked to deliver a sentence that sent a message to him as well as society.
He was sentenced to 70 years in prison.
Racism lives and breaths. pic.twitter.com/AqXx7c63X1— Suzanne (@suzyinthesun_s) April 14, 2023
“So they didn’t get him for beating his partner, they booked him for life for spitting at an officer. The minimum is 25 years. This is insanely excessive,” a user reacted on Twitter. Others, though, say that Larry Pearson’s past of violent crimes makes the sentence fair.
Lubbock County Sheriff defends sentence for spitting at police officers
“This wasn’t just spitting at someone. This was spitting at police officers,” said Lubbock County Sheriff Kelly Rowe, according to Complex. “And, it was after he’d already committed a violent act,” he added.
Larry Pearson’s case is an example of how people in the United States are still talking about how to change the criminal justice system. Some people say that harsh punishments are needed to stop people from breaking the law and protect society. Others, though, say that the justice system is often unfair, especially to people of colour, who are affected by mass incarceration more than other groups.
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