‘Predatory sexual offender’ gets five life sentences in Stoddard County

BLOOMFIELD, Mo. — A Dexter man received on Monday multiple life sentences after a jury recently found him guilty of child sex charges in Stoddard County.

Jerry Michael Pierce of Dexter was sentenced to five consecutive terms of life imprisonment as a predatory sexual offender by Presiding Circuit Judge Robert N. Mayer, according to Stoddard County Prosecuting Attorney Russ Oliver. Mayer further set Pierce’s minimum parole eligibility at 30 years for each count, meaning that he will not be eligible for parole for 150 years.

On March 29 a Stoddard County jury found Pierce guilty of four counts of statutory sodomy in the first degree; one count of statutory rape in the first degree; and one count of child molestation in the second degree.

The jury also found Pierce to be a “predatory sexual offender” due to a prior offense (that was never prosecuted) against another child in 1983 in the state of Michigan.

“I am so proud of the brave victims in this case standing up to this predator,” Oliver said. “There are no winners in cases like this. Multiple children have suffered greatly at the hands of the defendant for years.

He continued: “These cases are excruciatingly difficult to try, emotionally taxing on everyone involved, and painful for victims to relive as they tell of the abuse they have suffered. But we do those difficult things to bring justice and closure to the victims, to ensure that no other children suffer at the hands of the Defendant and to protect the families of our community.”

Oliver said the jury’s verdict and Mayer’s sentence ensures Pierce will never take another step as a free man the remainder of his life and will die in prison.

“We would like to express our gratitude to the jurors who listened to this horrific evidence over the course of two days, staying until 7 p.m. the first day and until 11 p.m. the second day when they reached their verdict,” Oliver said. “Our community owes them a debt of gratitude.”

Oliver also commended the local Child Advocacy Centers who provided support and counseling for the children as well as the families of the victims who stood by them in this difficult journey.

“Additionally, Detective Eddie Holloway and the entire Dexter Police Department did an exceptional job investigating this case,” Oliver said.

Due to the sensitive nature of the crime and to protect the identity of the victims, Oliver said no further details will be released.