“You Still Don’t Get It” — Judge Shackleford Snaps at Defendant

Added: 2026-06-01

[00:00:03][music] >> I do not see anybody. All right, this is 251982FT, the people versus Tiffany Pierce.

[00:00:15]>> Good morning, your honor. James Gizicki here for Miss Pierce. She's got a no bond on her pre-sentence report and no additions or corrections.

[00:00:24]>> All right, ma'am. Tell me your first and last name.

[00:00:27]>> Tiffany Pierce.

[00:00:30]>> The bond violations up today as well.

[00:00:34]Pediatric care.

[00:00:59]>> [snorts] >> All right, and and Mr. Gizicki, did you have a chance to review the letter that was written on behalf of Sophia Rodriguez by Jonathan Rodriguez?

[00:01:12]>> Yes, I did, your honor.

[00:01:13]>> Okay, I've also had a chance to review that. Miss Pierce, it's alarming.

[00:01:20]>> His letter?

[00:01:21]>> No, what you did.

[00:01:24]Not his letter, you. What you did. Why do you Do you think there's something wrong with a father writing a letter when the mother of his child is driving recklessly in a motor vehicle and has a kid in a car unrestrained and causes severe injuries to the child?

[00:01:46]>> [snorts] >> Are you proud What do you think of that?

[00:01:49]>> She was in a seat belt and >> How old is she?

[00:01:52]>> She's six.

[00:01:53]>> Okay, what's the law in the state of Michigan?

[00:01:56]Can you put a six-year-old in a seat belt? Is that what the law says to do?

[00:02:02]Your kid was in ICU.

[00:02:05]She's got facial like lacerations that have required plastic surgery.

[00:02:11]>> I I I understand all that. I'm the one who was with her through all that, not her father. He wasn't there before or after.

[00:02:19]>> You're also the one that caused it.

[00:02:22]Your actions caused this severe injury to your child.

[00:02:27]Yes or no?

[00:02:28]>> Yes.

[00:02:36]>> I'm almost done.

[00:02:38]>> And you got a 5-year felony reduced by the prosecutor's office, not me, Wayne County Prosecutor's Office, dismissed two felonies and let you plead to misdemeanors.

[00:02:54]So, all you're getting on this is what's the recommendation?

[00:02:59]Some probation.

[00:03:04]According to his letter, they had to give you a car seat at the hospital cuz you went up there without one to get her.

[00:03:10]>> You give my sister a car seat. I was unable to drive. I couldn't get up there.

[00:03:20]I have my own car seat for her. There was a CPS investigation and they >> Why wasn't it in your car on the day this happened?

[00:03:30]>> I'm a single mother. I dropped her off at school in her car seat.

[00:03:34]My brother had his baby that morning and I picked them up from the hospital. I removed my car seat to place his. I thought I had enough time to go back and I'd get it. I can't call her father to come pick her up because he's never there.

[00:03:50]>> You made a really bad decision.

[00:03:52]>> I know I did, but I was there for her and he wasn't.

[00:03:57]>> Well, this isn't He's This isn't an indictment of him. This isn't an indictment of you.

[00:04:02]You were recklessly You're operating with no license.

[00:04:07]>> And that I didn't know because they sent the wrong paperwork to the wrong address.

[00:04:12]>> See what I hear from you are a bunch of excuses, right? Like it's not your fault because you The dad wasn't around. It's not your fault because you didn't have a car seat that day because something else came up. It's not your fault. You didn't know your license was suspended. Like this is all I want to be clear. When you look at your daughter and you see that injury on her forever, it is all your fault. This is all your fault. You made a terrible decision that day.

[00:04:42]And it's like the lack of accountability or acknowledging that is incredibly [clears throat] frustrating.

[00:04:48]Cara, do you have anything you want to add?

[00:04:50]>> I did ask them to have a probation.

[00:04:53]Um, I I put everything in my desire for you to review that. There was no corrections or deletions. Um I included the restitution and cost and victim statement.

[00:05:06]Um I mean, I think I know that she has enrolled in therapy. I think that's going to be extremely beneficial for her.

[00:05:14]Uh I I mean, I hope it it helps her make better decisions in the future.

[00:05:21]>> [clears throat] >> Is she still smoking her weed? Were you smoking weed that day when you were driving your kid around causing serious injuries?

[00:05:29]>> She loves marijuana card, yeah.

[00:05:31]>> Did we review it? Is it from a real doctor with real information on it or is it from Dr. Kron?

[00:05:39]>> No, it is from a real doctor. Um, you did request her to get another note from the doctor that is attached in the front of the file.

[00:06:25]I don't know what this new letter adds.

[00:06:29]>> It doesn't really address the >> doesn't address the things that like we would request. So, she can have a hearing on her medical marijuana card. I can't stop her from using it according to the law in the state of Michigan. I can't stop her from using it until we have that hearing, right? That's my understanding. So, go ahead and smoke your weed while you're driving around with your kid in your car on a suspended license cuz that'll help. That'll help your anxiety. All right.

[00:06:58]Anything else?

[00:06:59]>> No, your honor.

[00:07:01]>> All right. Fine of 50, court costs of 50, state costs of 50, and a crime victim's rights fee of 75, probation oversight fee of 800, community service fee of $10 a day for a total of $100, and restitution will be determined at a later hearing if necessary. What would there Was there another motor vehicle involved?

[00:07:20]>> There was a second individual. I did just get that information. It's reported to the prosecutor, but I it's not being done.

[00:07:30]>> 24 months This is a sentencing agreement with Wayne County Prosecutor's Office.

[00:07:34]24 months probation, you'll have 10 days or 80 hours of community service in the city of Taylor or as directed by probation. Provide proof. You'll abstain from the use and possession of alcoholic controlled substances unless prescribed by a physician with documentation. And that'll be for the term of your probation. You'll be subject to random drug and alcohol testing as necessary at your expense.

[00:07:56]Uh you'll continue mental health treatment as directed by probation, follow all therapist recommendations, and provide proof. You'll complete parenting program as directed by probation through nationwide arm program and provide proof and follow follow therapist recommendations.

[00:08:11]You'll attend and complete any other ancillary services deemed warranted.

[00:08:15]You'll maintain employment and provide proof. No operating a motor vehicle without a valid license. And if you've not been printed, you must be fingerprinted.

[00:08:25]Um As for the bond violation, did she have that card when she was smoking the marijuana? When she tested positive, did she have a card?

[00:08:33]>> I believe she got the card uh day or two before that bond violation was held.

[00:08:38]>> Did she when the test was positive?

[00:08:41]>> Yes.

[00:08:42]I was never tested.

[00:08:45]>> No, she was not tested. She admitted to using marijuana and yeah.

[00:08:49]>> Well, I mean, she's got a medical I'm just dismissing the violation. It doesn't There's nothing I can do about that at this point. I mean, except for unless her doctor's going to give us what we need to know by law then we're going to have to have a hearing on it.

[00:09:04]>> I can have a hearing set.

[00:09:06]>> All right.

[00:09:08]Uh hold on.

[00:09:15]I'm adopting the recommendation in its entirety.

[00:09:19]Dismissing the violation of probation.

[00:09:22]Um Ms. Pierce, you need to take some accountability and you need to make some big life changes.

[00:09:31]Do you understand that?

[00:09:35]Is that a yes?

[00:09:36]>> Yes.

[00:09:37]>> And I know think I'm being hard on you, but you were charged with two felonies.

[00:09:42]You got them reduced to misdemeanors.

[00:09:44]Not because of me, but because of the prosecutor's office. And I just when I see someone come up and tell me excuse after excuse about why this isn't their fault, this is your fault.

[00:09:55]>> I wasn't trying to say it was my fault.

[00:09:56]You asked me the events leading up to it. I told you the events. I I feel wholeheartedly every time I look at my daughter know what I did.

[00:10:05]And I can't go back and change that, BUT I KNOW WHAT I DID.

[00:10:10]>> MAKE BETTER CHOICES. You've got little people counting on you. You can't you know, it's pretty egregious harm over something as simple as getting a car seat. I mean, >> [snorts and clears throat] >> ay, ay, ay. You're all set. Meet with Cara.

[00:10:29]All right. Who's Who's What do you have?

[00:10:31]Who's next?

[00:10:35]>> [music]