HARRIS COUNTY, Texas - An 81-year-old woman in Northwest Harris County says she is still without a chair and ottoman more than a year after she paid a man $655 to repair the furniture.

Shirley West says she hired a man she identified as Rick Pierson in April 2025 after he represented himself as a furniture repairman.

West says Pierson took her ottoman and chair and was paid to repair them. More than 15 months later, West says she still has neither the furniture nor her money back even after Pierson told 2 Helps You in early September he would have it all back to her and repaired in three weeks time,  No word. No chair, no word,  West told us on Wednesday.

As the first deadline approached West says Pierson sent him a text claiming,  He was in the hospital. It would be another two weeks,  however that deadline has passed without any communication from Pierson according to West, who filed a criminal complaint for theft.

The case was investigated by the Harris County Constable's Office for Precinct 4 and presented to the District Attorney's Office in order to file formal charges. According, to leadership at the constable's office,  The DA's office said they would not take charges claiming it's a civil matter. 

West made her position clear as to what it is to her,  It's theft, it's criminal. 

DA's Office asked to explain its position

After being told the District Attorney's Office had declined to pursue charges, 2 Helps You contacted the Harris County District Attorney's Office asking two specific questions:

How is the taking of a Harris County resident's furniture and cash and then not returning it --- not theft?

What does the DA's office have to say to Ms. West, the 81-year-old alleged victim about their position in her case where she is seeking accountability?

The DA's office did not directly answer either question.

When we asked West how did it make her feel that the DA's office did not specifically convey a message to her,  Unimportant,  West responded.

Investigators looking for other possible victims

While West is at the center of this complaint, investigators are now having
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