Office of the State Attorney

PRESS RELEASE

July 24, 2024      

 

State of Florida v. Joshua Robert Herren

                                                                            

DOB: 05/17/1986

Case Number: 2022-1175-CF

 

Former Putnam County School Resource Officer Convicted for Child Sexual Abuse

PALATKA – After a two-day trial this afternoon, a Putnam County jury found defendant Joshua Herren guilty of 16 felony counts: two counts of Sexual Battery of a Minor 12 to 18 years of age by Person in Custodial Authority, two counts of Unlawful Sexual Activity with a Minor, Offense Against Students by Authority Figure, eight counts of Promoting Sexual Performance by a Child, Transmission of Material Harmful to Minors by Electronic Device, Unlawful Use of a Two-Way Communication Device and Tampering in First-Degree Proceeding.

Herren committed these crimes over a three-year period while he was a Putnam County school resource deputy.

“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 case was investigated by the Putnam County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant State Attorneys Deb Rothenberg and Alex Gilewicz successfully tried the case for the state. The Honorable Alicia Washington presided over the case and is set to pronounce sentence on August 26, 2024. The defendant faces up to life in prison for the crimes.

 

For more information contact: 

Haley Harrison | Multimedia Specialist/PIO | Office of State Attorney R.J. Larizza, Florida's Seventh Judicial Circuit | SAOPIO@SAO7.org