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Gorman’s comments Wednesday came after Dewberry addressed Pierce’s family and claimed he didn’t kill their loved one.
“If there’s one thing that the evidence proved, without a reasonable doubt, is you are not an innocent man,” Gorman said. “You’re a stone-cold killer.”
Dewberry claimed Pierce was like a son to him and a friend to his son, George “G-Man” Dewberry Jr., who was killed a week before Pierce.
“Me and Jesse was going to do something to somebody about G-Man,” Dewberry said, talking to Pierce’s mother. “Don’t sleep too good because they got the wrong man. There ain’t no justice, it’s just us.”
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Pierce’s mother read a statement from Pierce’s sister in which she said Pierce was the motivation for her to go to college and study photography.
A victim’s advocate read Pierce’s mother’s statement: “I told him that the streets was not where he wanted to be so he began to work until the influence of the streets and the people in it called him back out there,” the mother’s letter said. “The last thing I said to him is, ‘Jesse, be careful of who you trust out there,’ and trust is what got him killed.”
Dewberry — who was on federal probation for a gun violation and with six previous felony cases — was found guilty of murder, attempted murder and having weapons while under disability. He was credited with 499 days of jail-time credit.
“We are very pleased,” county assistant prosecutor Lynda Dodd said. “This was a cold-blooded execution. He is very dangerous. He will now remain in prison for the rest of his life.”
Prosecutors’ sentencing memorandum indicated Dewberry showed no remorse.
“His use of intimidation was subtle at times, writing a letter to the prosecutor, addressing jurors personally,” the memo said. “But when the jury returned a guilty verdict, and immediately before the jury was polled, his demeanor quickly changed to a glare that could be described as nothing short of menacing.”
Gorman rejected Dewberry’s assertion that he was innocent.
“With premeditation and design, executed a young man who called you ‘Pops,’ ” Gorman said, pointing out that Pierce was shot 7 to 9 times and that Castro was shot twice. “And the only reason we’re here is that the witness wouldn’t die. That’s why we’re here. That’s why I’m here to sentence you.
“The witness wouldn’t die. You shot her in the back of the neck. You shot her in the face. She played dead. … You, sir, are dangerous, and the public doesn’t need you walking around.”
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