Man Receives 70-Year Jail Term for Spitting on US Police Officers

After spitting at Lubbock police officers during an arrest in May, a Texas man has been sentenced to 70 years in prison as of Wednesday, April 12. Larry Pearson, 36, was charged with domestic violence in May 2022, after a victim flagged down an officer in northeast Lubbock, according to prosecutor Jessica Gorman.


After spitting at Lubbock police officers during an arrest in May, a Texas man has been sentenced to 70 years in prison as of Wednesday, April 12.

Larry Pearson, 36, was charged with domestic violence in May 2022, after a victim flagged down an officer in northeast Lubbock, according to prosecutor Jessica Gorman.

The victim reported that Pearson had assaulted her multiple times and was in possession of a gun, which turned out to be an airsoft gun, as stated by Gorman.

At the time of the incident, a police report indicated that the victim had “multiple visible injuries” on her face.

According to Gorman, after being taken into custody, Pearson became upset because the victim was not arrested instead. He began kicking at the doors of the officer’s vehicle, and when the officers instructed him to stop, he spat at both of them.

Gorman stated that Pearson continued to spit even after arriving at the Lubbock County Detention Center.

Man sentenced to 70-year imprisonment for spitting at US policemen

 

During closing arguments of Pearson’s trial, the prosecutor urged the jury to consider a sentence that would “send a message” to both Pearson and society, taking into account his prior convictions of aggravated robbery and continuous family violence.

 

Gorman told KTLA sister station KLBK/KAMC, “You’re not going to get 70 years for something like this when you’ve never been in trouble before.”

 

Defense Attorney Jim Shaw argued that the sentencing was for a “simple misdemeanor” in a situation that got “out of control.”

 

However, due to his prior convictions, the minimum sentence Pearson could have received was 25 years.

 

Gorman stated during closing arguments, “If you’re going to live the life of crime, you’re going to do that among other criminals [in prison].”

 


ncG1vNJzZmimlazAr7vWp6CgnaKerm%2B6xmikmqZdqLKvwMSnmp6cXam8boOPZrCemaJitq680aKqqKadmru1ecWoqWaroJ7BtbXNoGSarF2qwG68zqWgnJ2dmrtw

 Share!