A former Philadelphia police officer has admitted to multiple sex crimes.
Patrick Heron, 54, pleaded guilty last week Friday (October 20) to a string of horrifying crimes including stalking, unlawful conduct with two separate children, child porn possession, indecent assault and kidnapping of a minor.
He is believed to have preyed on at least 48 women and girls since 2005, with some of the attacks taking place in the back of his patrol car.
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After he retired in 2019, he lied about still being an active officer to continue to lure more victims.
When one of his victims threatened to speak out, Heron allegedly forged a court order and a mental evaluation and posted them online in a false 'call for help' to silence her.
In 2022's, Heron's bail was revoked after he was recorded threatening to kill a witness.
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Investigators discovered dozens of images and videos that showed Heron filmed his assaults against dozens of young women and girls over 17 years.
Last month, prosecutors shared a video that they said showed Heron encouraging one victim to use heroin in the back of his patrol car. After she had become unconscious, he videotaped himself assaulting her, according to the chief of the Special Investigations Unit of the District Attorney’s Office Lyandra Retacco.
She added that some incidents allegedly involved Heron's daughter's friends, and said she hopes more victims will come forward.
She said: "We know there are more victim. Many of the trafficked women in the videos that we've actually recovered remain unidentified."
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Retacco also said that Heron met many of his victims while he was on the force and his crimes occurred from 2005 through to 2022.
Heron agreed to a plea deal after prosecutors told him he faced up to 1,300 years for the 200 counts he was charged with.
On Monday (October 23), the Philadelphia District Attorney's Office announced he had been sentenced to 15 to 40 years.
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A spokesperson for the District Attorney’s Office said the victims have welcomed the plea deal as it spares them the difficulty of a trial.
“Hopefully, everyone can move on,” Heron’s defense lawyer Anthony List said.
Gerrard Kaonga