JACKSON — The Mississippi Court of Appeals on Tuesday upheld the conviction and two consecutive life sentences of a Biloxi man found guilty of repeatedly sexually abusing his two stepdaughters, the court said in a unanimous opinion.
The appeals court affirmed the 2024 Harrison County Circuit Court verdict against John Nathaniel Pierre, who was convicted on 14 counts of sexual battery and one count of attempted sexual battery involving the girls, who were minors at the time, the opinion said.
According to the court, Pierre lived with his wife and her daughters from 2016 until 2021. The abuse came to light in August 2022 when the older daughter confronted Pierre, recorded the conversation and disclosed the allegations to her mother. The court said Pierre fled when confronted and was later arrested after leading officers on a high‑speed chase that exceeded 120 mph.
At trial, both victims testified that Pierre forced sexual acts beginning when they were as young as five. Pierre appealed, arguing a jury instruction improperly emphasized the victims’ testimony and that evidence was insufficient to prove penetration on several counts. The Court of Appeals rejected both claims, saying the defense failed to properly object to the instruction and that Mississippi law requires only “slight penetration” to sustain a sexual battery conviction. The court found the younger victim’s testimony sufficient for a reasonable jury to conclude penetration occurred.
The appeals court’s unanimous decision leaves the circuit court verdict and sentences in place. Pierre is serving the sentences in the custody of the Mississippi Department of Corrections.
