A former Philadelphia cop has been sentenced to 15 to 40 years in prison 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, agreed to a plea deal after prosecutors said he faced up to 1,300 years at trial on 200 charges, including child sexual assault, child pornography, unlawful intercourse, kidnapping and forgery, the Philadelphia Inquirer reported.
The disgraced ex-cop sexually assaulted dozens of underage women in the Kensington section of the city starting in 2005.
Prosecutors previously showed evidence that Heron took pictures and videotaped the attack on his victim.
Jane Roh, spokeswoman for the district attorney’s office, said the victims welcomed the plea deal because it spared them the trauma of a trial.
“Hopefully, everyone can move on,” defense attorney Anthony List said, adding that he also hoped the plea would allow the victim to avoid the pain of testifying.
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-duty officer to lure girls, including some of his daughter’s friends.
Investigators later found dozens of images and videos showing he carried out 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 in trouble with the law or struggled with addiction.
Heron faces up to 1,300 years at trial on 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 a video of himself assaulting her as she lay unconscious on her back, said Lyandra Retacco, head of the DA’s Office Special Investigations Unit, according to the news outlet.
Before forcing a girl to perform sex acts on him, Heron told her that “it will help you in court to have a police officer by your side,” Sgt. Gerald Rocks reportedly testified.
Patrick Heron targeted vulnerable young women and girls, including some of his daughter’s friends. Facebook / Patrick Heron
Authorities have identified 48 victims, but there are likely more who have yet to come forward, Retacco said.
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Source: thtrangdai.edu.vn/en/
