Appeals Court Denies Pierce's Request to Change Probation

Former University of Iowa basketball player Pierre Pierce, center, is lead to the Dallas County Sheriff's Office , Friday, Oct. 28, 2005, in Adel, Iowa after being sentenced to four years in prison for assaulting a former girlfriend during an argument at her apartment last January. Pierce plead guilty in August to third-degree burglary, assault with intent to commit sexual abuse, false imprisonment and fourth-degree mishief. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)

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Appeals Court Denies Pierce's Request to Change Probation

By Becky Ogann

DES MOINES (AP) - Former Iowa basketball player Pierre Pierce has lost a round in court.

The Iowa Court of Appeals has denied his request to change the conditions of his probation. The court upheld a Dallas County ruling that conditions of Pierce's probation hasn't been fulfilled.

Pierce served almost a year in prison for assaulting a former girlfriend in 2005 in West Des Moines. He was put on probation.

He was allowed to travel to California for basketball camp and try-outs. He then asked Iowa to be discharged from probation or to modify the conditions to allow him to travel to pursue a basketball career.

The district court rejected the request, saying he hadn't met the requirements.

Last month, Pierce was sentenced to 30 days in jail for violating his probation while playing in an NBA summer league in Las Vegas.

Friday, May 16 at 9:56 AM Just think wrote ...

He could have been a scholar, if not for this.

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Thursday, May 15 at 3:27 PM Rod wrote ...

A full scholarship at taxpayers expense and he blew it out of pure stupidity. So much for higher education. He doesn't deserve any more breaks and why is this old news even mentioned? It isn't like he'll ever be invited to an Iowa Alumni event.

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Thursday, May 15 at 1:26 PM hoops fan wrote ...

please remember he has assaulted and abused 2 separate female victims and was transferred to his home in Westmont, Il with his parents. Follow the rules and you get to move on. Keep repeating the abusive behavior and face the consequences. what does bb have to do with this? Only that he expects special treatment and has a massive belief that he is entitled to preferential consideration at every turn.

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Thursday, May 15 at 8:47 AM RS wrote ...

Being a Jock with a talent does not excuse his actions. If he had followed the rules he may have just earned the right to get his probation moved or changed, but because he violated it he now has shown he can't be trusted and should finish his sentence.

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Thursday, May 15 at 6:14 AM Ridiculous wrote ...

Come on...don't we have bigger fish to fry in this state. This young man has paid the price for his crime. Focus on the REAL criminals. The talent this young man has could influence positive feedback for past criminals. This is what inmates learn in prison...how to turn their negative behavior into positive behavior. Why aren't we giving him a chance?

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Wednesday, May 14 at 7:35 PM SERIOUSLY wrote ...

I agree with the female as I to am a female. He plead guilty to his crimes, did his time in prison and if Iowa doesnt want to discharge him they could at least transfer his parole to where he needs to go to make something of his life since he has lost his education and I am sure he is goin to turn all this into a learning exprience.

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Wednesday, May 14 at 6:22 PM tim wrote ...

once the courts get there hooks on ya they dont like to let go. i say hes done his time

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Wednesday, May 14 at 5:50 PM But more importantly wrote ...

Let's hope all this commotion didn't negatively impact his academic studies, college coursework, etc.

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Wednesday, May 14 at 5:31 PM break, on come on! wrote ...

Give him a break!!! No way, let him do the time, pay the price of being so arrogant. Who is to say he wouldn't try to kill, and get away with it .. (BECAUSE HE HAS TALENT). Let us not forget OJ Simpson! Two children are without a mother, and someboby has lost a brother and son!

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Wednesday, May 14 at 4:41 PM female wrote ...

I'm a female and I too agree it's time to let him live his life. He served his time, has to pay thousands of $'s to his ex, and lost his scholarship and education. To me, that sounds like quite a bit to lose. Let him try and make something of himself. If he messes up then he'll end up back in jail, but maybe he could end up being a good role model and show children that even when you mess up you may still have a chance to succeed. Let the man play basketball and move on with his life.

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Wednesday, May 14 at 4:28 PM Anonymous wrote ...

He was framed. It's obvious Gorney was just trying to get more playing time. Free Pierre!

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Wednesday, May 14 at 3:57 PM Anonymous wrote ...

Why should we give this guy a break? I don't care if He is a good jock or not. He needs to follow suit like everyone else.

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Wednesday, May 14 at 3:39 PM Whisky_NW wrote ...

Pierce made his bed & now he has to sleep in it. His choices are his own. If I was on probation & screwed up, I'm sure they'd throw my tucus in the clink for 30 days & it wouldn't make KCRG.com when they did it. This guy deserves exactly what he's getting, but I don't think it's news. Until he starts to behave responsibly, any punishment the justice system deems appropriate is fine with me.

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Wednesday, May 14 at 3:04 PM Whatever wrote ...

The only thing said about this story is that we have to continue to hear about it. Pierce is his own worst enemy.

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Wednesday, May 14 at 3:04 PM Ellorysgirl wrote ...

Why does Iowa care where he is? Let him go and then he'll be some other state's problem.

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Wednesday, May 14 at 2:27 PM Anonymous wrote ...

let the man move on in his life outside of iowa

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Wednesday, May 14 at 2:27 PM MAF3of6 wrote ...

Give him a break. He plead guitty to Burglary, Assault with intent to commit sexual abuse and False inprisonment. I would say his has got a break. Must not of been your sister he did this to.

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Wednesday, May 14 at 2:24 PM Nick LeFave wrote ...

Yeah, give the guy that violated the law and violated the terms of his probation a break. Unlike the rest of us who are not sport talents, he is of a special class that should have its own law. We all know that talented athletes are exempt from most expectations of proper behavior.

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Wednesday, May 14 at 1:58 PM Give it a rest wrote ...

Give the guy a break already while he has the talent and the opportunity.

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