Steven Pierce, 27, of Ceres, will face sentencing on March 13 following a Stanislaus County Superior Court jury convicting him of carjacking, felony assault, felon in possession of a firearm, allegations that he inflicted great bodily injury and personally used a firearm, and other related charges.

Pierce is a Three-Striker pursuant to California’s “Three Strikes” law due to his previous serious and violent convictions and is facing life in prison at sentencing. Deputy District Attorney Mark Garcia prosecuted Pierce and no plea agreements were pursued because of District Attorney Laugero’s policy to pursue maximum sentencing for career criminals charged with violent crimes.

On Feb. 2, 2023, Pierce walked up to the victim who was sitting in his car, forced him out of the vehicle at gunpoint, and ‘pistol-whipped’ him repeatedly with a firearm. The severity of the beating left the victim with severe injuries requiring stitches. Pierce fled the scene in the stolen car. The Modesto Police Department immediately started an investigation after the carjacking. Pierce was quickly identified as the suspect and arrested by detectives. He was found with the victim’s blood on his pants. Also, the victim’s car was located near the residence where Pierce was apprehended. DNA belonging to Pierce was found in the car.

Pierce could not legally possess a gun at the time of this crime because of his extensive criminal history.