HOUSTON, Texas – Shortly after former Houston Police Department narcotics officer Gerald Goines was sentenced to 60 years in prison by a jury of his peers, we heard from Harris County District Attorney Kim Ogg.
“This verdict has shown us that police corruption will not be tolerated, and no one is above the law,” Ogg said while standing near the families of Dennis Tuttle and Rhogena Nicholas.
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 Tuttle, Nicholas, and their dog was sentenced shortly after noon Tuesday.
Ogg, who appeared briefly several times throughout Goines’ trial, thanked the Texas Rangers, the HPD, and her office for helping bring justice to Tuttle and Nicholas.
“It is the most important verdict in the Harris County district. No officer has ever been convicted of murder in Harris County until now,” Ogg said.
The 2019 raid, which was based on falsified information from Goines, was a key point in the investigation that exposed corruption within HPD’s narcotics division, known as Squad 15.
“Gerald Goines has been a stain on the reputation of every honest cop in our community,” she said, comparing Goines’ actions to the movie Training Day.
Ryan Tuttle, the son of Dennis Tuttle, shared his thoughts after the sentencing as well.
“It’s been five and a half years of waiting with a heavy burden,” he said, referring to the false accusations that his father and stepmother, Nicholas, were involved in drugs and dealing.
Tuttle expressed relief that his family’s name had been cleared.
“We all commend the good officers who do their jobs honorably,” he said.
While speaking, Ogg said she wanted to emphasize the broader impact of this verdict.
“This is a great day for the honest cops and prosecutors who work in this system every day. The people of Harris County have spoken, and they have set the bar very high for corrupt cops,” she said.
As the investigation into Squad 15 continues, Ogg said that the other officers involved could still face justice.
“If you were wrongfully convicted, come forward. Lawyers can be appointed. This is the cost of corruption.”
Assistant District Attorneys Tanisha Manning and Keaton Forcht prosecuted the case.
After the sentencing, Manning said that Goines targeted people in poor parts of Houston because he knew they would not be able to fight the police in court.
“You didn’t see this happening in River Oaks or West University,” Manning said. “Goines preyed on predominantly poor communities who may or may not have the resources to fight back — but the people in those neighborhoods deserve the same protections that everyone else has.”
Manning and Forcht noted that investigators and prosecutors searched continually for the motive behind what Goines did — why he chose them and set in motion the series of events that led to their deaths.
“We don’t have to prove a motive — we only have to prove who is responsible — but we did still try to find the motive for what happened,” Forcht said. “The only person who really knows the motive has a Fifth Amendment right to not let us know what it is, and we respect his constitutional rights.”
Goines, who turned 60 last week, will have to serve at least 30 years in prison before he will be eligible for parole.
Missed a day or two? Get caught up with our daily coverage of the trial:
Day 10: Prosecution and defense rest in Harding Street murder trial
Day 9: Defense begins presenting case in Gerald Goines murder trial
Day 8: Autopsy photos shown in Goines trial for deadly Harding St. raid
Day 7: Jurors hear from Texas Ranger who investigated deadly Harding St. raid
Day 6: HPD detective says no evidence Gerald Goines fired firearm during deadly Harding St. raid
Day 5: Defense questions thoroughness of Harding St. home search after deadly raid
Day 4: Gerald Goines’ former HPD partner, Steven Bryant, drops bombshell during emotional testimony
Day 2 of Gerald Goines murder trial: State drilling down on initial 911 call that got things going
Day 1: Ex-HPD narcotics officer’s lies led to deadly Harding Street raid, prosecutors argue