According to FOX 26 Houston, a judge on Monday accepted a plea agreement calling for a five-year sentence for former Houston Police Department officer Gerald Goines, who pleaded guilty to a "color of law" charge related to the 2019 Harding Street raid. The station reports that Goines admitted making false claims to secure the search warrant for the operation, in which two residents were killed and four HPD officers were injured. Citing the U.S. Attorney's Office, the report says Goines falsely stated that a confidential informant bought heroin at the home and also lied about other drug purchases in the preceding three weeks. At the hearing, Goines expressed remorse, saying, "I'm truly sorry. I truly apologize to the families I've hurt." FOX 26 also reports he was convicted of murder in September 2024 and is serving a 60-year sentence.
Why it matters
The case shows an officer admitting to making false statements to obtain a search warrant that led to a fatal raid. The guilty plea and sentence add a federal conviction to his earlier state murder conviction, according to the report.
Convicted: A court found guilt, or the person pleaded guilty. An appeal may still be possible. Researched with AI assistance from the sources listed here and reviewed under our methodology.