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Former SLO police officer receives 18-month sentence

December 10, 2013
Corey Pierce

Corey Pierce

A judge sentenced former San Luis Obispo police officer Cory Pierce to 18 months in federal prison Monday. [KSBY]

Prosecutors accused Pierce, a former narcotics detective, of stealing drugs from the San Luis Obispo County Sheriff Department’s evidence locker and manipulating a probationer into selling drugs for him.

Pierce, 39, pleaded guilty to one of two counts of extortion in July.

He faced a maximum of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine but only received an 18-month sentence and an order to pay $5,500 in restitution.

San Luis Obispo Police Chief Steve Gesell told KSBY that Pierce’s actions were a stain on the department.

“My objective from day one was to ensure that this person was never a police officer again,” Gesell said.

Pierce gets to keep his accrued pension benefits from his time on the force up to the point in which he committed a felony. Pierce served six years with the police department and is believed to have committed the crime of extortion in late 2011.

His prison sentence will begin on January 27.

 


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Rot in hell Cory Piece! His whole investigation with the doobie dozen was a fraud. He deserves to be split roasted by Bubba and friends. How does,the stupid county proceed with the remaining members of the doobie dozen when one of their star witnesses is a lying, bribing dirty scum bag? I pray we hear about the crap being beat out of him. This is not justice folks.


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According to Chief Gesell … “His actions were a stain on the department”


This youtube clip from the old movie “Casa Blanca” reminds me of Gesell and/or substitute you favorite SLO city/county executive


View it and tell me you dont agree :)


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SjbPi00k_ME


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Chief Gesell what a joke,


“His actions were a stain on the department.” What about officer Limon, Dow or McDow and etc. Yes, there are some very good officers in the Department, but the agency’s leaders put a stain on the community and City of SLO. The fact that characters, like Limon, McDow or Dow, Faria, Nance, Wallace, and others are able to get away with committing crimes right under City leaders noises is a reflection of the stain on the organization caused by the ineptness of the City’s management personnel and council. What makes all of this worst is that the City rather than dealing with these issues, spends hundreds of thousands of tax payer money covering up the misconduct, because if it gets out – it is truly a reflection of ineptness of management!


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Am I the only one seeing a pattern here? What’s with the special treatment seeming afforded to most of our public employees.

To “Serve and Protect” is not free pass to engage in unlawful behavior with no, or minimal consequences.

When is enough, enough?


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Training Day all over again. A cop, cops to a plea and only gets 18 months? And he’ll no doubt be out in 3 months…or less.

Now does this REALLY send a good message to those who aspire to be cops?

The good ol boy network is alive and well.


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How delightful! A cop in some Club Fed (most likely Lompoc)…I can’t wait to read that someone has beat the crap out of this guy because, hey, that’s what happens to cops in prison. I have to presume the prison officials know this is likely to happen, so will try to protect him. Yet, they can’t see everyone all the time. I predict a shive to the gut, if nothing else. Only time will tell if I’m right or wrong.


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Exactly why he gets to go to a Federal Resort and not a mainstream State Prison like all the other drug dealers. Equality for all until it is one of their own!


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Those claiming that the “federal system” is a lenient alternative to the state system are misinformed. The federal system is much more severe (i.e. Leavenworth prison is no “resort” and has a reputation for being “cruel and unusual”). Those saying that this guy is part of some “special group” that lead to some type of leniency or special protections are likely not fans of law enforcement or “the man” in general, because as far as incarceration is concerned, the scale from least to most severe goes: County jail, State prison, Federal prison.


Alleging that federal prison will afford some level of protections is a complete reverse from the actuality of it. Federal prison is a black hole where humans are treated as animals because there are no “humanity” checks and balances the way the states are obliged to follow.


Repeat drug offenders, including violent drug offenders are allowed multiple second chances and deferred sentences for drug rehab stays, it’s a state proposition that allows it. Not to mention the early releases for “overcrowding” in the state prison system. Get informed before making ignorant statements, lest someone else believe the ignorance and the cycle continue.


I’ve only read about what this guy did, but a year and a half sounds neither “harsh” nor “lenient”. Especially if this was a first time conviction. Usually the sentencing judge takes into account previous character history, criminal history and any other “services rendered to humanity” (i.e. charitable efforts, military service etc). So without knowing this guys history or comparative sentences for similar cases, nobody can really make statements regarding the “leniency” or “severity”. But sadly so many are excited to condemn. It’s unfortunate and brings us down as a species.


From an objective point of view, it looks like this guy committed some crimes and was convicted and sentenced accordingly. Beyond that I’d caution those throwing stones to think twice because sometimes cruelty comes back to haunt us.


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tell that to Martha Stewart


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Ms. Stewart made it clear that it wasn’t a vacation.


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You better take a drive to Lompoc Federal Prison “Camp”, yes, and maybe they will give you a tour.

It is a low-security prison. The average offender at FCI Lompoc is serving between one and fifteen years for federal drug and or other non-violent offenses. It has four general housing units, two of which offer dormitory and room-type housing. The institution offers a full range of inmate employment, vocational training, education, counseling (both mental health and drug abuse), medical, dental, pre-release preparation, and other self-improvement opportunities,


In California, this is the prison to go to if given a choice which obviously the deal was worked out. How many criminals from San Luis Obispo have been sentenced to Lompoc Federal Prison Camp. Will be waiting for your answer please.


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Actually, there are two facilities in Lompoc: Federal Correctional Institution Lompoc; and United States Penitentiary Lompoc. Both are part of the Lompoc Federal Correctional Complex. Yes, FCI Lompoc is Club Fed compared to USP Lompoc, much as the SLO county jail is a country club compared to LA county, but you wouldn’t want to live there, either.


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This man’s sentence is nothing more than the “least sentencing” of a judge who is on the side of law enforcement.


I was personally involved in an event with Mr. Pierce as the lead investigator. When the SWAT team in my house realized that we were not guilty (based on information and evidence available at the time), of conducting any illegal activity, one of them went out and advised the “supervisor” (Pierce) in charge of the situation and the evidence, and he asked if Pierce wanted us to be arrested. Mr. Pierce said, yes, and actually stood on the sidewalk laughing as we were handcuffed and put in the sheriff’s van.


All charges against us were rejected after the evidence was reviewed and confirmed.


Mr. Pierce’s cruelty HAS come back to haunt him and may continue to do so for what one can only hope is the longest 18 miserable months of his life.

To those who show mercy, mercy will be shown.


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It comes under the same thought pattern as priests taking advantage of young alter boys or students…..This moron poses as law enforcement protecting and serving…while selling his own brand of drugs and corruption. The people he has put away, hassled, rousted and treated poorly (the doobie dozen for instance) have been put through more harsh results than he is receiving for his extreme wrong doing while under the cover of Law Enforcement! Bull, this is good ol boys taking care of their own again…..this county is rampant with it. This guy being back on the streets in 3/4 of a year is not fair nor do I believe he will have been rehabilitated. At a 9 month stay at most, he will do his time and come out looking to cause more trouble. I hope I am wrong and I would love to see him come out and turn to doing what is best for all……let’s just wait and see, it is all we can do at this point.


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Well, isn’t this special. The Blue line worked out pretty good for this criminal, thief, liar,drug addict. This guy pulls his service weapon on a dealer and steals their narcotics and he gets 18 months? Why was this clown given any breaks on sentencing? Inside job indeed. How can a person trust anybody in law enforcement after all the police corruption in this county. Shame on the people who pulled strings to get this horrible man such an unjust sentence. If you don’t believe their is one system of justice for us, and one for them, you aren’t paying attention. Can’t wait for this felon to testify in the Doobie Dozen lawsuits and claims.


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I think you need to look on the bright side.


If he’d have been a SLO fireman he would have had a few weeks of anger management

classes and then right back on the job. So it could have been worse for the public.


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And this surprises you? Don’t you know those in the “special group” know there is special set of rules that only apply to them, and the regular folks have to live by the real rules.


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So, let’s see justice at it’s best here. Processed through Federal system so he goes to a “Federal” prison which is best way to go to protect certain special people. No doubt he is probably going to Lompoc Resort. He gets 18 months out of a possible 20 years, he is fined $5,500 out of a possible $250,000 and the best punishment of all he keeps his pension for life. And then Chief Gesell is happy that we won’t be a police officer again, well DUH, he committed a felony. Justice is fairly served for the law enforcement of California. Nice inside job…


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I agree that he got off too lightly. However, inaccurate statements of his sentencing don’t help make your case.


Federal prison is not necessarily a better option than state. There are drug dealers there too and they probably won’t take lightly to a cop that tried to rip off one of theirs. I think one needs to be convicted of a “white collar” financial crime (i.e. you were a wealthy corporate exec.) or political corruption to get the fed’s “country club prison” treatment.


He is actually not getting fined at all. The $5500 is restitution to his druggie victims. Talk about a “lose-lose” situation!


He only gets to keep the portion of the pension he earned before the criminal acts. This will only be about 5-6 years on the job. While that isn’t nearly as much as a full pension, it should still have been sacrificed unless it would have been legally impossible to do that.


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That is 5-6 years with the City of San Luis Obispo and prior to that he was an undercover officer and a supervisor in Arizona for law enforcement. All total about 10-12 years in retirement pay. What was he thinking, working for the highest paid PD in the State!


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I don’t believe he will be in “general population” in whatever prison he goes to……he will be protected as he was through the investigation and trial. I am sure he committed numerous felonies throughout his years in LE….too bad no one is digging them up and prosecuting him for those…..much better time/money spent chasing after medical cannabis collectives in a states where they are legal!


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