Max 30-year sentence given to ex-Seaman trainer, coach Jeffrey Pierce
Describing his crimes as “alarming,” a federal choose Thursday gave the utmost jail sentence of 30 years to former Seaman Excessive Faculty trainer and coach Jeffrey D. Pierce for producing baby pornography.
Pierce, 43, hung his head after the sentence was pronounced by U.S. District Decide Toby Crouse, who mentioned he felt “particularly unhealthy” for the mother and father of Pierce’s victims.
Pierce had admitted in a plea settlement that whereas pretending to be a teenage woman, he requested 9 male youths over social media to ship him sexually express photographs and movies of themselves, federal courtroom information say.
A type of was a 15-year-old scholar of Pierce’s, in response to the settlement. It organized for him to plead responsible to at least one rely of manufacturing baby pornography in alternate for the dismissal of 11 different federal prices he confronted.
Prosecuting legal professional Austin Berry alleged Thursday that Pierce victimized different teenagers, however no prices had been filed linked to these conditions.
Sufferer’s mom to Jeffrey Pierce: ‘You’re a monster’
An viewers of greater than 40 individuals watched as Crouse handed sentence Thursday after listening to testimony from certainly one of Pierce’s victims and from moms of two different youngsters concerned.
All three confronted Pierce as they spoke.
“You’re a wolf in sheep’s clothes,” one of many moms mentioned.
“You’re a monster,” mentioned the opposite.
Pierce’s teenaged sufferer expressed confusion and embarrassment over what occurred to him.
“It is laborious to take care of,” he mentioned. “I’ve tried to suppress it.”
Pierce additionally spoke, expressing regret for what he’d performed and saying he was ready to just accept the results.
As well as, Pierce submitted a written assertion to Crouse asking for mercy and describing himself as being a “modified man.”
He requested Crouse to take note of the great issues he’d performed.
“I’m not your typical case,” he wrote.
Crouse acquired quite a few different written statements concerning Pierce, with some expressing help for him and others asking that he obtain a stiff sentence.
Prosecutor Jeffrey Pierce’s actions had ‘cascading impression’ on Seaman group
Prosecutor Berry shared excerpts from a number of the latter, saying they illustrated how Pierce’s actions had a “cascading impression” upon the Seaman group.
One assertion mentioned Pierce used his standing as a husband, father, trainer and coach to achieve college students’ belief, then betrayed and manipulated them for his personal sexual gratification.
Pierce’s actions had far-reaching penalties, inflicting college students to lose confidence and belief within the different adults round them, one other assertion mentioned.
Berry mentioned Pierce selected to “fish in a pond so near residence” as a result of he gained elevated gratification from victimizing youngsters of oldsters who thought-about him to be trainer and coach.
He mentioned as Pierce sought statements to undergo the courtroom testifying about his good character, a number of the individuals he solicited had been amongst his victims and their relations.
“Both he forgot that he victimized these boys or he is so callous that he thinks it would not matter,” Berry mentioned.
Pierce taught ninth-grade social research and was an assistant basketball coach at Seaman. He was fired after he was arrested in September 2020.
The settlement beneath which Pierce was sentenced Thursday mentioned he admitted having communicated together with his 9 victims, who had been ages 14 by means of 16, between October 2018 and September 2020 utilizing social media platforms that included Instagram, Snapchat and Kik.
Pierce threatened one sufferer, who had stopped sending him sexually express photographs, with the chance that his prior photographs would “get out” if he did not resume sending, the settlement mentioned.
It mentioned Pierce, whereas nonetheless posing as a teenage woman, requested one other sufferer to satisfy with “her” pal “Jeff” to have interaction in intercourse acts. The settlement did not say whether or not that subsequently occurred.
Pierce agreed to circumstances punishable by penalties that embrace a most of 15 to 30 years in jail, in response to the settlement.
From January 2022:Former Seaman trainer admits victimizing 9 totally different youths, pleads responsible to baby porn cost
Pierce additionally agreed to pay restitution to any of his victims in no matter quantity the sentencing choose might order and to forfeit particular cellphones and pc tools linked to the crime for which he was convicted.
Crouse ordered no restitution, saying no victims had requested for it.
Prosecutors agreed to not file additional prices in opposition to Pierce linked to the case.
Former Seaman trainer had fought contents of cellphone as proof
Extra:Investigators say they did not power former Seaman trainer Pierce to surrender his mobile phone passcode; choose to determine dispute
Pierce pleaded not responsible in December 2020 to federal prices of 9 counts of manufacturing of kid pornography and one rely every of coercion and enticement, possession of a visible depiction of a minor participating in sexually express conduct and distribution of a visible depiction of a minor participating in sexually express conduct.
Crouse dominated final November that the contents of Pierce’s cellphone may be used as proof in opposition to him.
Crouse denied a movement filed by Christopher Joseph, Pierce’s legal professional, who sought to suppress proof investigators obtained from that cellphone whereas contending they illegally pressured him to present the passcode used to unlock it.
Crouse concluded Pierce had offered his passcode voluntarily and that the code had additionally been revealed to investigators by his spouse, Keelin Pierce.
Pierce expressed gratitude at Thursday’s listening to that he nonetheless had the help of his spouse and their two daughters.
Tim Hrenchir may be reached at threnchir@gannett.com or 785-213-5934.
