HOUSTON, Texas – The jury deliberated for more than 10 hours before sentencing Gerald Goines, the former Houston Police Department officer, to 60 years in prison.
Goines, who was found guilty of two counts of felony murder for his involvement in the 2019 Harding Street raid that led to the deaths of Dennis Tuttle, Rhogena Nicholas, and their dog was sentenced Tuesday shortly after noon.
Goines received concurrent 60-year sentences for the deaths of Tuttle and Nicholas, with eligibility for parole in 30 years and a potential fine of up to $10,000.
As Judge Veronica Nelson delivered the sentencing, Goines, held in an inmate room at the courthouse, showed little emotion, simply clasping his hands and bowing his head.
Before being taken to the holding room, his attorney, George Mac Secrest, whispered to him as deputies escorted him out of the courtroom.
Goines is set to be transferred to the Texas Department of Corrections later Tuesday, following an impact statement from Tuttle’s son, Ryan.
Ryan took the stand for the final time, reading a statement from both his family and Nicholas’s family.
He expressed hope that Goines’ sentence would serve as a warning to public servants who break the law.
Ryan also criticized former HPD Chief Art Acevedo, demanding a public apology for accusing Tuttle and Nicholas of drug dealing.
“We expect that to happen swiftly. Can someone deliver that message to him,” Ryan stated.
In a final appeal to Goines, Ryan urged him to speak up and provide answers to their families, emphasizing that now is the time.
Goines’s case has highlighted significant issues within law enforcement, particularly the use of no-knock warrants.
The prosecution, led by Tanisha Manning and Keaton Forcht, argued for a life sentence, emphasizing the consequences of Goines’s actions.
Manning’s closing arguments highlighted what she called the worst case of badge abuse in Harris County history, painting Goines as a corrupt officer who betrayed public trust.
The defense team, which consisted of Nicole Deborde, George Secrest, and three others, took a different approach. They urged the jury to consider Goines’s long career in law enforcement and the good he has done in the community.
They argued that despite his conviction, Goines dedicated decades to combating drug-related crimes and taking bad people off the streets. They also point to his health issues and the reputational damage he has already suffered, suggesting a lesser sentence of five years would be more appropriate for the 61-year-old former officer.