Fired Jasper Chief Rodney Pearson Cover-up of Child Rape Charges Against Son Ronnie Pearson Investigated by TX Rangers

The Texas Department of Public Safety has confirmed this Texas Ranger’s investigation against Ronnie Pearson, the son of Fired Jasper Police Chief Rodney Pearson. This Cover-up is more fuel for the fire to show that former Jasper Police Chief Rodney Pearson was fired for good cause and not because he is black, as Rodney Pearson alleges.

Several months ago, I received information that Rodney Pearson, before he was fired from being the Jasper Police Chief, had covered up a complaint from a 14/15 year old girl’s parents alleging that 25 year old Ronnie Pearson (Rodney Pearson’s son) had been having sex with their teen daughter (her name will not be revealed), got her pregnant, and took her to Planned Parenthood in Lufkin, TX to get an abortion without the parent’s knowledge or consent. The parents wanted rape charges filed against Pearson so they went to the Jasper Police Department to file a complaint. The father of the man they were filing a complaint against was Jasper Police Chief Rodney Pearson so, needless to say, the complaint went nowhere.

The parents were not happy so they called the Texas Rangers. Texas Ranger Ken Parks went to Jasper to investigate. According to a source in the Police Department, Police Chief Rodney Pearson and Captain Curtis Frame told Ken Parks that they received the complaint against Ronnie and they told Ronnie to stop partying so much, but they did not do anything further with the complaint, to which Ranger Parks replied that they were stupid for doing that because now it is a State investigation.

These allegations were shocking, but I knew I could not write an article about this unless I had some kind of proof to back up what was said.

I went to the Jasper Police Department to request information about the complaint against Ronnie Pearson but the Jasper Police Department said they had no record of the complaint.

I then contacted the Texas Department of Public Safety to request information about the Texas Ranger Complaint/Investigation into the rape/police cover-up allegations against Ronnie Pearson and Rodney Pearson (see my email request to TX DPS below). The Texas DPS replied back to me saying that they have identified the investigation files against Ronnie Pearson, but that they could not release them to me because the documents involved allegations of child abuse/sexual abuse/sexual assault. The Texas DPS said in their response that they were exempt from releasing the documents because of protections for the child victim (see response from TX DOS below).

The Texas DPS might not have been able to release any documents about the case to me, but what their response did do is confirm to me that there are allegations and an investigation of child sexual assault against Rodney Pearson’s son, Ronnie Pearson. Furthermore, the fact that this is a Texas Ranger case and not being handled by the local police department is evidence to support the allegation that there was a cover-up by Pearson’s police Department which prompted the Texas Rangers to get involved and investigate.

Over the last couple of months, I have had the opportunity to talk to Ronnie Pearson’s mother, Julie Ann Trolinger Fish, about the allegations against her son. Julie says she divorced Rodney Pearson years ago, but not before having to suffer through him beating her and cheating on her. She said that she has been very distraught because of the allegations against her son Ronnie and that it is too much for her to bear so she has given it to God. She said that she loves her son and taught Ronnie the right values as a child, but that things changed when Ronnie went to live with her ex-husband Rodney Pearson. She said Rodney was a bad influence on her son and let Ronnie run wild with no rules. She said Ronnie had no structure under Rodney and that Rodney taught him that a title gives you empowerment and lets you be above the law.

Rodney Pearson has recently played the race card, alleging that he was fired because he is black. Those who opposed Rodney Pearson as Police Chief included both black and white Jasper Residents. Those who opposed Pearson as Police Chief have always presented evidence showing that their opposition to Pearson was not about race and instead was due to him lying about his criminal record, lack of qualifications compared to other applicants, accusations that Pearson discriminated against White police officers and fired/demoted them, and other problems with his performance as Police Chief, including allegations of him committing sexual assault. Furthermore, the same Jasper residents who opposed Pearson have overwhelmingly just elected a black conservative State Representative James White over his white opponent. 

This is even more evidence to show that opposition to black Rodney Pearson is not due to racism.

This new allegation against Pearson, (that in his official Police Chief capacity he covered up a child rape complaint against his son), is the most shocking evidence against Pearson so far and will likely be used against Pearson to combat Pearson’s lawsuit alleging that he was fired for no other reason than because he is black.

Below you can see the information request that I sent to the Texas Department of Transportation and their response to my request:

Email I send to TX DPS Requesting Info:

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: David Bellow 
Date: Mon, Jun 25, 2012 at 10:31 AM
Subject: TX Rangers Open Records Information Request 6/25/2012
To: ogc.webmaster@dps.texas.gov
Cc: David Bellow

Howdy,

I would like whatever information can be released regarding a case that that the Texas Rangers are working on.

I believe that the case is being handled by Ken Parks of the Beaumont Division.

The complaint/investigation is against Ronnie Pearson.

Pearson (about 25 y/o) is being investigated for allegedly having sex with a 15 year old girl (girl’s name withheld from article) and then taking the girl to have an abortion.

The parents of (girl’s name withheld from article) I believe are the ones who had called the Rangers asking them to investigate because the Jasper, TX Police Department was not investigating the allegations because the police chief at the time was Ronnie Pearson's father.

I believe that should be enough information for you to be able to look up the complaint/investigation.

I would like to get any information that can be released at this time (at least for sure I should be able to get confirmation and basic details of the complaint/investigation)

Thanks!

Sincerely,

David Bellow

409 656 5128

mdbellow@gmail.com

Reply I got from TX DPS about Ronnie Pearson Investigation info Request:

TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY 5805 N LAMAR BLVD  BOX 4087  AUSTIN, TEXAS 78773-0001 512/424-2000 www.dps.texas.gov STEVEN C. McCRAW COMMISSION DIRECTOR A. CYNTHIA LEON, CHAIR DAVID G. BAKER CARIN MARCY BARTH CHERYL MacBRIDE ADA BROWN DEPUTY DIRECTORS ALLAN B. POLUNSKY JOHN STEEN

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER COURTESY  SERVICE  PROTECTION

 July 10, 2012

Via Email

David Bellow

mdbellow@gmail.com

RE: Public Information Request for investigation involving Ronnie Pearson in Jasper, Texas (PIR # 12-2091)

Mr. Bellow:

The Department received your above-referenced request on June 25, 2012. The Department has located records responsive to your request; however, we believe some or all of the records may be excepted from required public disclosure at this time. We are seeking a ruling from the attorney general’s office with respect to disclosure of these records, and a copy of our request letter is enclosed. You will be notified directly by the attorney general’s office when a ruling is issued.

If you have any questions regarding this request, please submit them in writing via facsimile to (512) 424-5716, via email to OGC.Webmaster@dps.texas.gov, via mail to the address in the letterhead, or in person at our offices at 5805 N. Lamar Blvd. in Austin. Thank you.

Cordially,

Michele Freeland

Legal Assistant

cc: The Honorable Greg Abbott

Attorney General of Texas

Open Records Division

209 West 14th Street, 6th Floor

Austin, Texas 78701

fax: (512) 463-2092

TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY 5805 N LAMAR BLVD  BOX 4087  AUSTIN, TEXAS 78773-0001 512/424-2000 www.dps.texas.gov STEVEN C. McCRAW COMMISSION DIRECTOR A. CYNTHIA LEON, CHAIR DAVID G. BAKER CARIN MARCY BARTH CHERYL MacBRIDE ADA BROWN DEPUTY DIRECTORS ALLAN B. POLUNSKY JOHN STEEN

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER COURTESY  SERVICE  PROTECTION

July 10, 2012

Via Hand Delivery

The Honorable Greg Abbott

Attorney General of Texas

Open Records Division

209 West 14th Street, 6th Floor

Austin, Texas 78701

RE: Public Information Request for investigation involving Ronnie Pearson in Jasper, Texas (PIR # 12-2091)

DATE REQUEST FOR INFORMATION RECEIVED: 6/25/2012

DATE REQUEST FOR RULING SUBMITTED TO ATTORNEY GENERAL: 7/10/2012

Dear Attorney General Abbott:

The Department of Public Safety received the above-referenced request for information from David Bellow on June 25, 2012. Due to Independence Day on July 4, 2012, our offices were closed; therefore, we believe this request for a ruling on disclosure is timely made in accordance with section 552.301 of the Government Code. We believe some or all of the requested information is excepted from required public disclosure pursuant to sections 552.101 and 552.108 of the Government Code. Accordingly, we are requesting a ruling regarding the release of these records.

Section 552.101 of the Government Code states that “[i]nformation is excepted from the requirements of Section 552.021 if it is information considered to be confidential by law, either constitutional, statutory, or by judicial decision.” This section encompasses section 261.201 of the Family Code, which states:

(a) Except as provided by Section 261.203, the following information is confidential, is not subject to public release under Chapter 552, Government Code, and may be disclosed only for purposes consistent with this code and applicable federal or state law or under rules adopted by an investigating agency:

(1) a report of alleged or suspected abuse or neglect made under this chapter and the identity of the person making the report; and

(2) except as otherwise provided in this section, the files, reports, records, communications, audiotapes, videotapes, and working papers used or developed in an investigation under this chapter or in providing services as a result of an investigation.

…

(d) The adoptive parents of a child who was the subject of an investigation and an adult who was the subject of an investigation as a child are entitled to examine and make copies of any report, record, working paper, or other information in the possession, custody, or control of the state that pertains to the history of the child. The department may edit the documents to protect the identity of the biological parents and any other person whose identity is confidential, unless this information is already known to the adoptive parents or is readily available through other sources, including the court records of a suit to terminate the parent-child relationship under Chapter 161.

...

(k) Notwithstanding Subsection (a), an investigating agency, other than the department or the Texas Youth Commission, on request, shall provide to the parent, managing conservator, or other legal representative of a child who is the subject of reported abuse or neglect, or to the child if the child is at least 18 years of age, information concerning the reported abuse or neglect that would otherwise be confidential under this section. The investigating agency shall withhold information under this subsection if the parent, managing conservator, or other legal representative of the child requesting the information is alleged to have committed the abuse or neglect.

(l) Before a child or a parent, managing conservator, or other legal representative of a child may inspect or copy a record or file concerning the child under Subsection (k), the custodian of the record or file must redact:

(1) any personally identifiable information about a victim or witness under 18 years of age unless that victim or witness is:

(A) the child who is the subject of the report; or

(B) another child of the parent, managing conservator, or other legal representative requesting the information;

(2) any information that is excepted from required disclosure under Chapter 552, Government Code, or other law; and

(3) the identity of the person who made the report.

The requested information relates to an investigation into alleged child abuse under chapter 261 of the Family Code. See Family Code § 261.001(1)(E) (definition of child abuse includes continuous sexual abuse of young child or children under Penal Code § 21.02, indecency with a child under Penal Code § 21.11, sexual assault under Penal Code § 22.011, or aggravated sexual assault under Penal Code § 22.021). In addition, the requested information consists of files, reports, records, communications, or working papers used or developed in the course of the investigation into child abuse; therefore, this information is within the scope of section 261.201. Additionally, the Department has not adopted a rule governing the release of this type of information. Further, the requestor has not stated that he is an adoptive parent, parent, managing conservator, or other legal representative of the child who is the subject of the reported abuse or neglect. Accordingly, the Department believes these records are confidential by law, as set forth in section 261.201(a) of the Family Code, and should therefore be excepted from required public disclosure pursuant to section 552.101. See Open Records Decision No. 440 at 2 (1986) (predecessor statute).

An investigation into the above-referenced incident is ongoing. Thus, the Department believes the requested information is excepted from required public disclosure pursuant to section 552.108(a)(1) of the Government Code, which states:

(a) Information held by a law enforcement agency or prosecutor that deals with the detection, investigation, or prosecution of crime is excepted from the requirements of Section 552.021 if:

(1) release of the information would interfere with the detection, investigation, or prosecution of crime.

Because this is an ongoing investigation, the release of potential evidence would interfere with the investigation and prosecution of this case. See Houston Chronicle Publ’g Co. v. City of Houston, 531 S.W.2d 177, 184-85 (Tex. Civ. App.—Houston [14th Dist.] 1975), writ ref’d n.r.e., 536 S.W.2d 559 (Tex. 1976) (per curiam). Consequently, the Department believes these responsive records are excepted from required public disclosure at least until the investigation is complete.

Please find enclosed the request from David Bellow, the notice of our request for a ruling sent to the requestor, and the responsive records we wish to except from required disclosure. Please feel free to contact me at (512) 424-2890 if you have any questions.

Sincerely,

Molly Cost

Assistant General Counsel

MC/mf

Enclosure(s)

cc: David Bellow

mdbellow@gmail.com