A former Philadelphia police officer was sentenced to 15 to 40 years behind bars for sexually assaulting at least 48 women and girls, including his daughter’s friends, often in the back of his patrol car.
Patrick Heron, 54, accepted a plea deal after prosecutors said he faced up to 1,300 years at trial on the 200 charges, which included child sexual assault, child pornography, unlawful touching, kidnapping and forgery, the Philadelphia reported. Inquirer.
The disgraced former police officer sexually assaulted dozens of underage women in the Kensington section of the city starting in 2005.
Prosecutors previously showed evidence that Heron took photographs and recorded videos while assaulting his victims.
Jane Roh, a spokeswoman for the district attorney’s office, said victims welcomed that plea deal because it spares them the trauma of a trial.
“Hopefully everyone can move on,” said defense attorney Anthony List, adding that he also hoped the plea would allow victims to avoid the anguish of having to testify.
Former Philadelphia police officer Patrick Heron, 54, has been sentenced to 15 to 40 years in prison after pleading guilty to sexually assaulting dozens of young women and girls while on duty. Philadelphia Police Department
Heron, who retired in 2019, was initially accused last year of posing as an active officer to lure girls, including some of his daughter’s friends.
Investigators later discovered dozens of images and videos showing he committed his heinous acts against dozens of young women and girls over the age of 17, often targeting victims who had run away from home, were facing legal trouble or struggling with addiction. .
Heron faced up to 1,300 years at trial on the 200 charges.Facebook/Patrick Heron
Last month, prosecutors shared a video of Heron encouraging a young woman to use heroin in the back of his patrol car.
He then recorded himself assaulting her while she lay unconscious on her back, said Lyandra Retacco, head of the District Attorney’s Office Special Investigations Unit, according to the news outlet.
Before forcing a girl to perform sexual acts on him, Heron told her that “it would help you in court to have a police officer on your side,” the sergeant said. Gerald Rocks reportedly testified.
Patrick Heron targeted vulnerable young women and girls, including some who were friends of his daughter. Facebook / Patrick Heron
Authorities have identified 48 victims, but there are likely more who have not come forward, Retacco said.
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Source: vtt.edu.vn