Shirley West, an 81-year-old Harris County widow, said she gave a repairman several hundred dollars in April 2025 to fix her chair and ottoman, and he never returned them. West also filed a criminal complaint with law enforcement.
The Harris County Precinct 4 Constable's Office first tried to present charges to the Harris County District Attorney's Office, which declined to accept them. Investigators later filed charges. Rickey Pierson was arrested during a traffic stop on Oct. 9, according to court records, and was charged with misdemeanor theft involving $2,155.
The charging complaint states Pierson could not provide a location for West's furniture. Jonathan Zitzmann of the Precinct 4 Constable's Office said Pierson appeared surprised by the arrest.