CLAY COUNTY, Fla. — Jacksonville sheriff's officer Josue Garriga, 34, who was arrested on a warrant Wednesday on accusations of sex crimes with a 17-year-old girl, made his first court appearance Thursday morning in Clay County. He resigned from the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office upon his arrest.
Garriga is charged with five counts total, see below:
- Lewd and lascivious behavior, a third-degree felony
- Obscene communication traveling to meet a minor after using a computer or electronic device, a second-degree felony
- Lewd or lascivious touching with a person 17 years of age or older, a third-degree felony
- Cruelty to child transmit harmful information to a minor, a third-degree felony
- Unlawful use of a two-way communications device, a third-degree felony
The judge presiding over Garriga's first appearance, set his bond for each count at $75,003, which amounts to $375,015 total.
If released after posting bond, the judge ordered Garriga to not have any contact with the victim, "that means no contact whatsoever through social media, telephone, text messaging or coming in personal contact with her," the judge said. The judge also said that Garriga would have a GPS monitor placed on himself, said he is to not have contact with any minors, would be prohibited from accessing the internet or possessing a device that's capable of accessing the internet, and told him that he is not allowed to possess any firearms.
Garriga's attorney, Daniel Scott Monroe, who was in attendance for the first court appearance, told the judge that Garriga has two children including a 10-year-old daughter with special needs that "does require around the clock care," and that he is the "primary breadwinner" of his family.
"His inability to post bond, which he would be most likely unable to post at the present amount, would basically prevent the wife from either being able to work or care for the child, either way would leave them potentially destitute," Monroe said. "With four out of the five [charges] being third-degree felonies, I would just ask that the court if they would entertain lowering each one down to 40,000 [dollars], or on the third-degree felonies, if the court would be willing to lower it relative to the second-degree felony."
Monroe further stated that Garriga has lived in the Jacksonville area his whole life, doesn't believe he is a "flight risk" if released on bond, and doesn't have a prior record, as the judge then denied the request.
"However, it can certainly be brought up in circuit court," the judge said to Monroe.
Despite Garriga having no past record before his arrest, according to Monroe, the former officer has been involved in several controversial cases that have happened over nearly the last decade. He is the officer who fatally shot FAMU student Jamee Johnson in 2019 and was also involved in the use-of-force arrest of Le'Keian Woods; both cases led to protests against police brutality in the city.
Garriga was also one of several gang-unit officers exposed for taking part in a group chat full of offensive messages. In the messages, he called Johnson a "clown" and said he was only remembered because he was Black.
Furthermore, Garriga was one of the officers involved in a fatal police-involved shooting in Putnam County in 2015.
AJ Jordan of MAD DADS told First Coast News he works to bridge the gap between families who are victims of violence and police. He said Garriga's arrest makes his goal more of a challenge.
“Just kind of feeds into the theory of you know, he was a bad cop all along," Jordan said. "Y'all allowed him to stay on the force. And this is what happens."
First Coast News Crime and Safety Expert Ken Jefferson says Garriga's arrest has nothing to do with his prior cases as an officer.
“He was cleared of any wrongdoing based on evidence and facts. You can’t hold those things against him," Jefferson said.
Garriga is the fourth JSO officer arrested this year.
Jefferson says Jacksonville Sheriff T.K. Waters promised accountability in his department and is following through on that promise.
"He's going to reveal to the public exactly what's going on and he's done a good job of keeping that promise," Jefferson said.
Waters said in a statement Thursday: "Former Officer Josue Garriga was arrested by the Clay County Sheriff's Office... While Garigga is no longer a JSO employee, the agency fundamentally believes in accountability."
Garriga's next court date is April 23 at 9 a.m., "if not sooner," the judge said.
