Gerald Goines, a former Houston police officer, was sentenced to 60 years in prison for the murder of a married couple, Dennis Tuttle and Rhogena Nicholas, during a drug raid in January 2019. The raid brought to light systemic corruption in the department’s narcotics unit. Goines had been convicted in the deaths of the couple, who were shot along with their dog after officers burst into their home using a “no-knock” warrant. Goines had been free on bond until his convictions last month, and he received the 60-year sentence for each count of murder, to run concurrently, with no visible reaction.
Ryan Tuttle, the son of Dennis and Rhogena, spoke at the trial, stating that his parents were victims of severe systemic failure in police work, particularly in supervision of Goines. Prosecutors alleged that Goines falsely claimed an informant had bought heroin at the couple’s home, setting up the violent confrontation in which the couple was killed and officers were shot and wounded. An investigation revealed that officers fired first, killing the dog and likely provoking Tuttle’s gunfire. The raid led to the uncovering of wider corruption in the department, with Goines and other officers tied to the narcotics squad being indicted on other charges.
Defense attorney Nicole DeBorde sought a minimum sentence of five years for Goines, emphasizing his dedication to keeping drugs off the streets. Prosecutors, however, asked for a life sentence, stating that Goines preyed upon those he was supposed to protect with a pattern of corruption that damaged the relationship between law enforcement and the community. Goines was ultimately given the 60-year sentence, and his attorneys filed an appeal, stating they do not believe he is guilty of the crime of felony murder. Investigators later found only small amounts of drugs in the couple’s house, leading to Goines’ suspension and retirement from the department.
In addition to his state charges, Goines also faces federal criminal charges related to the raid, and federal civil rights lawsuits filed by the families of Tuttle and Nicholas are set to be tried in November. The families expressed gratitude for the convictions, stating that the jury saw the case for what it was: vicious murders by corrupt police, an epic cover-up attempt, and a measure of justice, at least with Goines. The case also brought to light the connection between Goines and George Floyd, whom Goines arrested in 2004 in Houston. Floyd’s death in 2020 sparked a national reckoning on racism in policing, and a request for a posthumous pardon for his drug conviction was declined by a Texas board in 2022.
