Because there were many people upset over Pierce being allowed to remain on the team and keep his scholarship, two petitions totaling over 3,000 signatures were filed protesting the circumstances of the school's handling of the case.
Amid resolutions urging students to boycott the men's basketball games, the petition had urged season ticket holders to ask the athletic department for a refund or to transfer their tickets to another athletic team,[27] actions Pierce's attorney Alfredo Parrish labeled "absolutely ridiculous" because "[they] don't know the facts" before "[reaching] a conclusion.
[8] Pierce was back in uniform with the team in August 2003, in a return for the 2003–04 season,[3][28] in which he led the Hawkeyes on a five-game tour of Australia.
[38][39] Pierce's attorney Alfredo Parrish sought dismissal of the most serious of the charges, first-degree burglary, a felony that carries a maximum penalty of up to 25 years upon conviction.
[40] Months later, fresh evidence surfaced that Pierce made more than 200 phone calls to his ex-girlfriend in March and April, which violated a no-contact order.
[4] In May 2005, a judge allowed Pierce to travel outside of Iowa to attend a Chicago, Illinois-based camp in preparation for June's 2005 NBA draft.
[4] Strict conditions were placed on Pierce, including the posting of a $30,000 cash bond, that he stay with his parents in the Chicago area and that he submit a plan outlining his supervision while attending the camp.
[4] In August 2005, he reached a plea bargain and pleaded guilty to third-degree burglary, assault with an intent to commit sexual abuse, false imprisonment, and fourth-degree criminal mischief in Dallas County District Court.
[30][41] Pierce served 332 days (11 months) of a 2-year sentence at Iowa's Mount Pleasant Correctional Facility[36] before being released on probation[42] on September 24, 2006.
[26] Pierce was named to the roster of Golden State Warriors' 2007 NBA Summer League competition in Las Vegas,[44] in which he played impressively,[45][46] averaging 21.5 points in his first two games.
[47] Because the terms of his probation prevented him from leaving Iowa to pursue a career with the NBA,[48][49] his participation in the Nevada-based summer league was a violation, which resulted in him being sentenced in April 2008 to 30 days' jail.