{"id":112064,"date":"2024-10-09T06:55:58","date_gmt":"2024-10-08T23:55:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/hotvideos24.online\/?p=112064"},"modified":"2024-10-09T06:55:58","modified_gmt":"2024-10-08T23:55:58","slug":"a-retired-houston-officer-gets-60-years-in-a-couples-drug-raid-deaths-that-revealed-corruption","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/hotvideos24.online\/?p=112064","title":{"rendered":"A retired Houston officer gets 60 years in a couple&#8217;s drug raid deaths that revealed corruption"},"content":{"rendered":"<p> <script async src=\"https:\/\/pagead2.googlesyndication.com\/pagead\/js\/adsbygoogle.js?client=ca-pub-3711241968723425\"\r\n     crossorigin=\"anonymous\"><\/script>\r\n<ins class=\"adsbygoogle\"\r\n     style=\"display:block\"\r\n     data-ad-format=\"fluid\"\r\n     data-ad-layout-key=\"-fb+5w+4e-db+86\"\r\n     data-ad-client=\"ca-pub-3711241968723425\"\r\n     data-ad-slot=\"7910942971\"><\/ins>\r\n<script>\r\n     (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});\r\n<\/script><br \/>\n<\/p>\n<div>\n<p>HOUSTON (AP) \u2014 A former Houston police officer was sentenced to 60 years in prison on Tuesday for the murder of a married couple during a <span class=\"LinkEnhancement\"><a class=\"Link AnClick-LinkEnhancement\" data-gtm-enhancement-style=\"LinkEnhancementA\" href=\"https:\/\/apnews.com\/article\/baf77bf8debd4788a09526f24877767b\">drug raid<\/a><\/span> that revealed systemic corruption in the department\u2019s narcotics unit and prompted criticism of the law enforcement agency and its tactics.<\/p>\n<p><span class=\"LinkEnhancement\"><a class=\"Link AnClick-LinkEnhancement\" data-gtm-enhancement-style=\"LinkEnhancementA\" href=\"https:\/\/apnews.com\/general-news-bf0d2e5fcd530f3f76a7a00fab03bae1\">Gerald Goines<\/a><\/span> was <span class=\"LinkEnhancement\"><a class=\"Link AnClick-LinkEnhancement\" data-gtm-enhancement-style=\"LinkEnhancementA\" href=\"https:\/\/apnews.com\/article\/houston-fatal-drug-raid-officer-murder-trial-44615a811db21398a9820ffc8cbc979e\">convicted<\/a><\/span> in the January 2019 deaths of Dennis Tuttle, 59, and Rhogena Nicholas, 58. The couple were shot along with their dog after officers burst into their home using a \u201cno-knock\u201d warrant that didn\u2019t require them to announce themselves before entering. <\/p>\n<p>Prosecutors said Goines lied to get the search warrant approved and that his actions were part of a pattern of wrongful drug arrests and convictions of innocent individuals during his 34-year law enforcement career.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cGerald Goines has been a stain on the reputation of every honest cop in our community, a community that he terrorized through corruption worthy of the movie \u2018Training Day,\u2019\u201d said Harris County District Attorney Kim Ogg.<\/p>\n<p>Goines, 60, looked down but had no visible reaction as he heard the sentences for each count of murder, which will run concurrently. The jury, which had deliberated for more than 10 hours over two days on his sentence, also fined him $20,000. <span class=\"LinkEnhancement\"><a class=\"Link AnClick-LinkEnhancement\" data-gtm-enhancement-style=\"LinkEnhancementA\" href=\"https:\/\/apnews.com\/article\/tx-state-wire-george-floyd-shootings-sentencing-death-of-george-floyd-aa10bec2133d26ab1e49228907d23ac3\">Legal experts have said<\/a><\/span> it is rare for a police officer to be charged and convicted for an on-duty killing.<\/p>\n<p>Goines didn\u2019t make eye contact when Ryan Tuttle sat on the witness stand after the sentencing, with a framed photograph of his father and stepmother, and said his family was still waiting for answers from the ex-officer about why he targeted the couple. Goines, who did not testify during the monthlong trial, remained silent.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cMy father and my stepmother were not involved in any drug dealing. They were good people. They did not deserve this,\u201d Ryan Tuttle said, and then stared at Goines as he walked away.<\/p>\n<p>During closing arguments in the trial\u2019s punishment phase, prosecutors had asked for a life sentence. Goines\u2019 attorneys had asked for the minimum sentence of five years, saying Goines had dedicated his life to keeping drugs off the streets.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe still don\u2019t believe legally that he is guilty of the crime of felony murder and we look forward to having the appellate courts review this,\u201d Nicole DeBorde, one of Goines\u2019 attorneys, told reporters after the sentence was read.<\/p>\n<p>Goines had been free on bond since he was charged, but he was taken into custody following his conviction last month by the same jury.<\/p>\n<p>Prosecutors said Goines falsely claimed an informant had bought heroin at the couple\u2019s home from a man with a gun, setting up the violent confrontation in which the couple was killed and four officers, including Goines, were shot and wounded, and a fifth was injured. A Texas Ranger who investigated the raid testified that the officers fired first, killing the dog and likely provoking Tuttle\u2019s gunfire. <\/p>\n<p>His lawyers acknowledged he lied to get the search warrant, but sought to diminish the impact. Two witnesses \u2014 a fellow officer and the judge who signed the warrant \u2014 said the raid never would have happened if Goines had told the truth.<\/p>\n<p>Investigators later found only small amounts of marijuana and cocaine in the house, and while Houston\u2019s police chief at the time, <span class=\"LinkEnhancement\"><a class=\"Link AnClick-LinkEnhancement\" data-gtm-enhancement-style=\"LinkEnhancementA\" href=\"https:\/\/apnews.com\/general-news-680be28ad7114782b7a9507aebdd67bb\">Art Acevedo, initially praised<\/a><\/span> Goines as being \u201ctough as nails,\u201d he later suspended him when the lies emerged. Goines later retired as the probes continued.<\/p>\n<p><span class=\"LinkEnhancement\"><a class=\"Link AnClick-LinkEnhancement\" data-gtm-enhancement-style=\"LinkEnhancementA\" href=\"https:\/\/apnews.com\/article\/4253327d01caf85646739e45ad144770\">The probe into the drug raid<\/a><\/span> uncovered allegations of much wider corruption. Goines was among a dozen officers tied to <span class=\"LinkEnhancement\"><a class=\"Link AnClick-LinkEnhancement\" data-gtm-enhancement-style=\"LinkEnhancementA\" href=\"https:\/\/apnews.com\/article\/4253327d01caf85646739e45ad144770\">the narcotics squad<\/a><\/span> who were later <span class=\"LinkEnhancement\"><a class=\"Link AnClick-LinkEnhancement\" data-gtm-enhancement-style=\"LinkEnhancementA\" href=\"https:\/\/apnews.com\/article\/houston-police-b6247750b35ef7ea46e5e14422a5d3cc\">indicted on other <\/a><\/span> charges. A judge dismissed charges against some of them, but a review of thousands of cases involving the unit led prosecutors to <span class=\"LinkEnhancement\"><a class=\"Link AnClick-LinkEnhancement\" data-gtm-enhancement-style=\"LinkEnhancementA\" href=\"https:\/\/apnews.com\/national-national-general-news-40b820aca065257d34f3832dd4b16076\">dismiss many cases<\/a><\/span>, and the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals <span class=\"LinkEnhancement\"><a class=\"Link AnClick-LinkEnhancement\" data-gtm-enhancement-style=\"LinkEnhancementA\" href=\"https:\/\/apnews.com\/article\/houston-0110df5cc6c64fea6c1e2668f9f025ad\">has overturned<\/a><\/span> at least 22 convictions linked to Goines.<\/p>\n<p>Ryan Tuttle said he hoped the deaths of his father and stepmother would spur police reform not just in Houston but around the country.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIf it\u2019s happening in Houston, it\u2019s happening everywhere,\u201d Tuttle said. \u201cWe have to make sure this stops.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Ogg said the police department reviewed various policies after the raid but that a thorough revamping of narcotics enforcement by the agency has yet to happen.<\/p>\n<p><span class=\"LinkEnhancement\"><a class=\"Link AnClick-LinkEnhancement\" data-gtm-enhancement-style=\"LinkEnhancementA\" href=\"https:\/\/apnews.com\/article\/4253327d01caf85646739e45ad144770\">An audit<\/a><\/span> of the narcotics unit done after the raid found officers made hundreds of errors in cases, often weren\u2019t thorough in their investigations and lacked supervision.<\/p>\n<p>In a brief statement after the jury\u2019s sentence, Houston police said, \u201cWe respect the jury\u2019s decision in the trial involving Gerald Goines and thank the jurors for their time and service.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThis is not an indictment against police officers. There are 99% upstanding police officers. This was also about sending a message to them, that we believe in them, we support them. What we don\u2019t support is corruption,\u201d said prosecutor Tanisha Manning. <\/p>\n<p>Goines also made a drug arrest in 2004 in Houston of <span class=\"LinkEnhancement\"><a class=\"Link AnClick-LinkEnhancement\" data-gtm-enhancement-style=\"LinkEnhancementA\" href=\"https:\/\/apnews.com\/article\/george-floyd-profile-66163bbd94239afa16d706bd6479c613\">George Floyd<\/a><\/span>, whose 2020 death at the hands of a Minnesota police officer sparked a nationwide reckoning on racism in policing. <span class=\"LinkEnhancement\"><a class=\"Link AnClick-LinkEnhancement\" data-gtm-enhancement-style=\"LinkEnhancementA\" href=\"https:\/\/apnews.com\/article\/death-of-george-floyd-texas-houston-greg-abbott-8d01ecbc78b56887a74a7e35861e2a57\">A Texas board in 2022<\/a><\/span> declined a request that Floyd be granted a posthumous pardon for that drug conviction.<\/p>\n<p>Goines also faces <span class=\"LinkEnhancement\"><a class=\"Link AnClick-LinkEnhancement\" data-gtm-enhancement-style=\"LinkEnhancementA\" href=\"https:\/\/apnews.com\/general-news-2b4598e783d742d9bc1731983aca631d\">federal criminal charges<\/a><\/span> in connection with the raid, and <span class=\"LinkEnhancement\"><a class=\"Link AnClick-LinkEnhancement\" data-gtm-enhancement-style=\"LinkEnhancementA\" href=\"https:\/\/apnews.com\/article\/houston-shootings-police-lawsuits-indictments-640748decfd70870ddc1efb12f9986d3\">federal civil rights lawsuits<\/a><\/span> filed by the families of Tuttle and Nicholas against Goines, 12 other officers and the city of Houston are set to be tried in November.<\/p>\n<h2>___<\/h2>\n<p>Follow Juan A. Lozano: <span class=\"LinkEnhancement\"><a class=\"Link AnClick-LinkEnhancement\" data-gtm-enhancement-style=\"LinkEnhancementA\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/juanlozano70\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">https:\/\/twitter.com\/juanlozano70<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p><script async src=\"\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><script>\n  window.fbAsyncInit = function() {\n      FB.init({\n              appId : '870613919693099',\n          xfbml : true,\n          version : 'v2.9'\n      });\n  };\n  (function(d, s, id){\n     var js, fjs = d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0];\n     if (d.getElementById(id)) {return;}\n     js = d.createElement(s); js.id = id;\n     js.src = \"https:\/\/connect.facebook.net\/en_US\/sdk.js\";\n     fjs.parentNode.insertBefore(js, fjs);\n   }(document, 'script', 'facebook-jssdk'));\n<\/script><br \/>\n<br \/><script async src=\"https:\/\/pagead2.googlesyndication.com\/pagead\/js\/adsbygoogle.js?client=ca-pub-3711241968723425\"\r\n     crossorigin=\"anonymous\"><\/script>\r\n<ins class=\"adsbygoogle\"\r\n     style=\"display:block\"\r\n     data-ad-format=\"fluid\"\r\n     data-ad-layout-key=\"-fb+5w+4e-db+86\"\r\n     data-ad-client=\"ca-pub-3711241968723425\"\r\n     data-ad-slot=\"7910942971\"><\/ins>\r\n<script>\r\n     (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});\r\n<\/script><br \/>\n<br \/><div data-type=\"_mgwidget\" data-widget-id=\"1660802\">\r\n<\/div>\r\n<script>(function(w,q){w[q]=w[q]||[];w[q].push([\"_mgc.load\"])})(window,\"_mgq\");\r\n<\/script>\r\n<br \/>\n<br \/><a href=\"https:\/\/apnews.com\/article\/houston-police-corruption-murder-drug-raid-1ee81ed2947a72e43ebf9e6f6435e1f1\">Source link <\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>HOUSTON (AP) \u2014 A former Houston police officer was sentenced to 60 years in prison on Tuesday for the murder of a married couple during a drug raid that revealed &hellip; <a href=\"https:\/\/hotvideos24.online\/?p=112064\" class=\"more-link\">Read More<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[8629],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-112064","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-u-s","entry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/hotvideos24.online\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/112064","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/hotvideos24.online\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/hotvideos24.online\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/hotvideos24.online\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/hotvideos24.online\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=112064"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/hotvideos24.online\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/112064\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/hotvideos24.online\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=112064"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/hotvideos24.online\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=112064"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/hotvideos24.online\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=112064"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}