A former Houston police officer has been sentenced to 60 years in prison for the murder of a married couple during a drug raid that exposed systemic corruption within the department’s narcotics unit.
Gerald Goines, 60, was found guilty in the deaths of Dennis Tuttle, 59, and Rhogena Nicholas, 58, who were fatally shot along with their dog after officers executed a “no-knock” warrant on their home without announcing themselves.
Goines had been out on bond since being charged in the January 2019 incident until his recent convictions. He showed no visible reaction as he received the sentence for each murder count, to be served concurrently. The jury deliberated for over 10 hours.
Ryan Tuttle, the son of the victims, addressed the court with a photo of his father and stepmother, stating that they were “victims of severe systematic failure in police work, particularly with the supervision of Gerald Goines.”
Prosecutors revealed that Goines had fabricated information about a drug deal at the couple’s home, leading to the deadly confrontation that also resulted in injuries to four officers, including Goines, and another officer. A Texas Ranger testified that the officers initiated gunfire, killing the dog and likely provoking Tuttle to shoot back.
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Although Goines’ defense admitted to his false statements to obtain the search warrant, they attempted to downplay the impact. However, two witnesses—a fellow officer and the warrant-signing judge—stated that the raid would not have occurred if Goines had been truthful.
The investigation into the botched drug raid uncovered broader corruption allegations. Goines was one of twelve officers from the narcotics squad indicted on various charges. While some charges were dismissed, a review of thousands of cases involving the unit led to the dismissal of many cases, with at least 22 convictions tied to Goines overturned by the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals.
Defense attorney Nicole DeBorde requested the minimum sentence of five years, emphasizing Goines’ commitment to combating drugs in the community. On the other hand, prosecutors sought a life sentence, highlighting Goines’ prolonged pattern of corruption that damaged the trust between law enforcement and the public.
Following the discovery of only small amounts of marijuana and cocaine in the victims’ home, Houston’s former police chief initially commended Goines but later suspended him when the truth came to light. Goines retired as investigations continued.
Notably, Goines was also involved in the 2004 drug arrest of George Floyd in Houston. A request for a posthumous pardon for Floyd’s drug conviction was denied by a Texas board in 2022.
DeBorde, one of Goines’ attorneys, expressed plans to appeal the verdict, citing potential legal issues. Additionally, Goines faces federal charges related to the raid, and civil rights lawsuits filed against him, other officers, and the city of Houston by the families of Tuttle and Nicholas are set for trial in November.
The family of Nicholas expressed appreciation for Goines’ convictions, stating that the jury recognized the case as “vicious murders by corrupt police, an epic cover-up attempt, and a measure of justice, at least with Goines.”
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