Ex-Philly officer convicted for sexual assault of minors and women; some while on-duty: DA
PHILADELPHIA - A former Philadelphia police officer has been convicted after pleading guilty to the sexual abuse and assault of minors and women over the course of more than a decade, according to the DA's Office.
Patrick Heron, 53, was charged with 218 total criminal counts including kidnapping, involuntary deviate sexual intercourse, unlawful contact with a minor, sexual assault, child sexual abuse, indecent assault and institutional sexual assault, according to the DA's Office.
The former patrol officer was initially charged last year for crimes committed after his 2019 retirement. In June, he was rearrested for 19 additional cases that officials say happened while he was on duty, in uniform and armed with a service weapon.
Some of these cases also include allegations of witness intimidation and harassment that officials have described as "among the most egregious" the office has seen.
Officials say a mass amount of digital images and videos were seized from accounts linked to Heron, several showing him abusing and assaulting women and girls in the backseat of his patrol vehicle.
Heron was sentenced to 15 to 40 years in prison after pleading guilty to "charges representing each of the joined criminal cases against him." Prosecutors said he faced a 1,300-year sentence if convicted of all charges.
Retired Philly officer charged for sexual assault of minors, threatening witnesses in 19 new cases: DA
The DA's office charged Heron with 233 new counts including kidnapping, involuntary deviate sexual intercourse, unlawful contact with a minor, sexual assault, child sexual abuse, indecent assault and institutional sexual assault.
In addition to the former Philadelphia officer's conviction, officials announced a guilty plea for former Roman Catholic priest Armand Garcia during a Monday press conference.
Garcia, who was assigned to Immaculate Heart of Mary Parish, met his victim when she was a 13-year-old altar server at parish elementary school, officials say.
That victim delivered an impact statement detailing the PTSD and trauma she still endures "due to Garcia’s abuse and manipulations," according to statement released by the DA's Office.
Garcia pleaded guilty to corruption of minors and unlawful contact with a minor and will be sentenced in January 2024.