D.A. says man flees while jury is deliberating

BEAUMONT - From Jefferson County District Attorney's Office - Jed Piazza, 46 (dob 10/20/63), last known address 915 Atlanta, Nederland, Beaumont, Texas, was convicted in absentia after he fled a Jefferson County court room while a jury deliberated his fate in a 2009 burglary. He was quickly arrested by Nederland police officers after the Office of Criminal District Attorney Tom Maness issued a request for assistance in capturing the fugitive defendant. Shortly before two this afternoon (2/2/10) he was again standing before Judge John Stevens, this time shackled and in handcuffs. Officers found suspected crack cocaine in his possession when he was arrested.

On April 27, 2009, Nederland police officers found Piazza sitting on the bed of a travel trailer that was the residence of a Louisiana man in Jefferson working on Hurricane Ike relief. He was still holding a pry bar that had been used to break into the trailer when he was arrested by the officers at the scene. Neighbors had reported a possible burglary, which is why the officers came to the scene.

Criminal District Attorney Tom Maness reacted quickly. “We cannot and will not tolerate someone ridiculing our justice system by thinking that they can just walk away”, said Maness. “I have directed the trial lawyers (David Lindenmuth and Chris Cadena) on this case to move quickly as possible to file any new charges that may apply”.

Piazza is indicted as a habitual offender, meaning that he faces anywhere from 25 to 99 years or life in the penitentiary system when he is sentenced on March 8, 2010, by Judge Stevens. His prior felony convictions extend from 1991 to 2007, for offenses ranging from burglary, to unlawful possession of a weapon, to possession of a controlled substance.