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.
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
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
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
