Russell Pearce was a Republican (GOP) member of the Arizona State Senate. Russell Pearce was the father of five children: Dodi, Sean, Colten, Justin, and Joshua and three adopted grandchildren: Wyatt, Ethan, and Tatum Pearce.
Russell Pearce’s son Justin resigned from the Arizona Motor Vehicles Division in 1999 after fabricating fake driver’s licences with false ages for himself and four friends in order to avoid alcohol prohibition laws.
Justin Pearce later pleaded guilty to tampering with a public record and was sentenced to probation.
Joshua Trent Pearce, Pearce’s other son, was arrested in February 2011 on two outstanding arrest warrants related to a probation violation and failing to appear in court.
Sean Pearce, Russell Pearce’s son, received the Medal of Valor after being shot in the line of duty while serving a homicide warrant.
Russell Pearce, died on January 5, 2023 after falling ill. He was 75. Pearce was elected to the Arizona Senate in 2008 after serving in the Arizona House of Representatives from 2001 to 2009 and working in law enforcement for over twenty years.
He rose to national prominence as the primary sponsor of Arizona SB1070, a contentious anti-illegal immigration bill that was signed into law in 2010.