Kent Pierce Found Guilty in Death of Hit-and-Run Victim Nicole Rae Walker (March 23, 1993)

Описание: KENT PIERCE IS FOUND GUILTY IN THE DEATH OF NICOLE RAE WALKER; VEHILICULAR HOMICIDE; AND LEAVING THE SCENE OF AN ACCIDENT. MOTHER OF NICOLE RAE WALKER SPEAKS TO THE PRESS REGARDING VERDICT; DEFENSE ATTORNEY FELT THAT HE LET HIS CLIENT DOWN.

MAN GETS 60 YEARS IN GIRL’S HIT-RUN DEATH

A lifetime of crime finally caught up with Kenneth Pierce, who was sentenced on Friday to 60 years in prison for last summer’s hit-and-run death of 6-year- old Nicole Rae Walker.

Pierce, 53, of Davie, was sentenced under a special habitual offender category that allowed a stiffer sentence because of his criminal past — 20 convictions over 35 years, including two previous hit-and-runs.

As a habitual offender, Pierce will have to serve at least two-thirds of his time, or 40 years before becoming eligible for parole. That is far more than the 20 to 30 percent of prison sentences most convicts in Florida serve because of crowded prisons.

“Early release be damned,” declared prosecutor Kenneth Padowitz outside the courtroom after Pierce was sentenced. “The people of Broward County are sick of revolving-door justice.

“This sentence took the revolving part out. He will spend the rest of his life in Florida State Prison.”

The florid-faced Pierce took Broward Circuit Judge Mark Speiser’s tough sentence calmly, but his friends in the gallery were visibly riled. One man became belligerent with sheriff’s deputies and had to be wrestled out of the courtroom.

Pierce’s wife, Kathryn, left the courtroom sobbing hysterically. “Kenny, Kenny,” she wailed.

A jury on March 23 found Pierce guilty of vehicular homicide/leaving the scene of an accident, leaving the scene of an accident with injuries, driving with a suspended license and three counts of tampering with evidence.

Under normal sentencing guidelines, Pierce faced 17 to 22 years in prison for his crimes. Even if he received the maximum, Pierce probably would not have spent more than five years in prison if Speiser had not labeled him a habitual offender.

Pierce drove the truck that ran over three little girls who were playing in a puddle outside their Dania homes on June 23. Nicole was killed and her two friends, Brooke Mansey and Michele Vittello, were severely injured.

The truck sped off but was later found in Pierce’s driveway and linked to the crash through paint flecks found in the girls’ clothing.

The two-week trial that led to Pierce’s conviction was packed with gripping testimony from the children, and Friday’s sentencing hearing was no less emotional.

Nicole’s father, William Dean Walker, was one of several family members and friends to ask Speiser to follow the prosecution’s recommendation of a 70-year prison sentence.

Walker glared and pointed at Pierce as he spoke. He said his son, Dean, 10, has become temperamental and has let his school grades slip since Nicole’s death. He said the loss of Nicole has strained relations between him and his wife.

“You ruined us all. You ruined everything,” Walker said. “What’s the matter with you? All of your life, you have been doing people wrong. Why don’t you finally stand up and do the right thing?”

Dean Walker Jr., the son, was even harsher. Reading from prepared notes, he said: “I think Kenneth Pierce should die just like Nicole, but not with the truck, but with the electric chair.”

Suzanne Walker, Nicole’s mother, spoke last.

“I know in my heart I will never hear the words, ‘I’m sorry, Mrs. Walker. I’m the one who hurt your daughter,”‘ she said. “But when you meet your maker, (Nicole) will be there to ask you … ‘Why did you leave me to die?”‘

Three of Pierce’s friends and Kathryn Pierce spoke on the convict’s behalf, all saying he was a man who was always available to help his neighbor.

“I just want to say to the (Walker) family, ‘We do have compassion.’ After all, I’m a mother too,” Kathryn Pierce said before leaving the stand in tears.

Pierce’s son, Trent, 27, still faces three counts of tampering with evidence for allegedly helping his father fix the truck that ran over Nicole.

Kenneth Pierce spoke briefly, reiterating his plea of innocence. “There’s no way I could ever do something like that,” he said.

Pierce’s attorney, Bo Hitchcock, said he had braced his client for the possibility of lengthy prison time. But Hitchcock nonetheless seemed chagrined as he talked to reporters after that possibility came true.

“That’s pretty stiff,” Hitchcock said. “He thanked me. I don’t know why. I feel like I let him down.”

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Kenneth Pierce had 20 criminal convictions for misdemeanors and felonies before being found guilty in the hit-and-run death of Nicole Rae Walker:

— MAY 28, 1956: Driving with a suspended license.

— SEPT. 9, 1960: Three counts of burglary, sentenced to two to four years in prison.