Former school resource officer convicted for child sexual abuse
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Public Information Officer Haley Harrison with the Office of R.J. Larizza, State Attorney for Seventh Judicial Circuit, reported to Historic City News the conviction of a former School Resource Deputy in Putnam County for crimes he committed over a three-year period while assigned to Interlachen High School.
After a two-day trial concluded yesterday afternoon, a Putnam County jury found defendant 38-year-old Joshua Robert Herren guilty of 16 felony counts including (2) counts of sexual battery of a minor by a person in custodial authority, (2) counts of unlawful sexual activity with a minor student by an authority figure, (8) counts of promoting a sexual performance by a child, transmission of material harmful to minors by an electronic device, unlawful use of a two-way communication device, and tampering in a first-degree proceeding.
“The defendant used his position of authority to sexually abuse a victim he was sworn to protect,” State Attorney R.J. Larizza said about the case. “No punishment is too severe for his crimes.”
The Honorable Alicia Washington presided over Case Number: 2022-1175-CF and is set to pronounce sentence on August 26, 2024. The defendant faces up to life in prison for the crimes.