PUTNAM COUNTY, Fla. — A former Putnam County school resource officer who was found guilty of child sex abuse in July was sentenced to life in prison Monday.
Joshua Robert Herren was found guilty of 16 felonies: 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.
A judge sentenced Herren to life in prison plus 235 years.
Herren was arrested Nov. 28, after a victim told deputies they had a relationship with Herren from the time she was 15 to the time they were 18.
The victim also described times when Herren “snuck” in while her mother was sleeping or gone from the home.
The victim described Herren as wanting her to dress up as a young girl and for her to call him “Daddy.”
The victim told police that at one point they ended the relationship and blocked his phone number and his social media accounts.
However, the victim said at that point she began receiving letters from him at her home. The victim described them as plain white envelopes with a name on them and explained the letters warned them against telling anyone about the relationship.
The Putnam County Sheriff's Office said once Herren knew the type of changes he was up against, he abruptly left the building. DeLoach said he resigned via text message about 40 minutes later.
“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.”