After being found guilty of spitting at Lubbock police officers during an arrest last May, a Texas man was sentenced to 70 years in prison on Wednesday, April 12.
Larry Pearson, 36, was arrested for domestic violence in May 2022 after a victim flagged down an officer in northeast Lubbock, according to prosecutor Jessica Gorman.
Pearson, according to the victim, had hit her several times and had a gun. Gorman stated that the firearm was an airsoft gun.
A police report at the time stated the victim had “multiple visible injuries” on her face.
Gorman expressed disappointment that the victim was not arrested instead of Pearson after Pearson was apprehended.
That’s when he began kicking at the doors of the officer’s car. Gorman claimed he spit at both officers when they opened the door to tell him to stop.
Pearson continued to spit after arriving at the Lubbock County Detention Center, according to Gorman.
During closing arguments of the sentencing phase of Pearson’s trial, the prosecutor asked the jury to consider a number that would “send a message” to Pearson and society. She said Pearson had prior convictions of aggravated robbery and continuous family violence.
“You’re not going to get 70 years for something like this when you’ve never been in trouble before,” Gorman told KTLA sister station KLBK/KAMC.
Defense Attorney Jim Shaw argued to the jury that the sentencing was for a “simple misdemeanor” in a circumstance that got “out of control.”
But due to his prior convictions, the minimum sentence Pearson could have received would’ve been 25 years.
“If you’re going to live the life of crime, you’re going to do that among other criminals [in prison],” Gorman said during closing arguments.