Ex-Philly cop sentenced for sexually assaulting 48 young women

A former Philadelphia cop has been sentenced to 15 to 40 years behind bars for sexually assaulting at least 48 women and girls, including his daughter’s friends – and often in the back of his patrol car.

Patrick Heron, 54, agreed to a plea deal after prosecutors said he faced up to 1,300 years at trial for the 200 counts, which included child sex assault, child pornography, unlawful contact, kidnapping and forgery, the Philadelphia Inquirer reported.

The disgraced ex-cop sexually assaulted dozens of underage women in the Kensington section of the city beginning in 2005.

Prosecutors previously showed evidence of Heron snapping photos and shooting videos while assaulting his victims.

Jane Roh, spokesperson for the district attorney’s office, said the victims welcomed that plea deal because it spares them the trauma of a trial.

“Hopefully, everyone can move on,” defense attorney Anthony List said, adding that he too hoped the plea would allow the victims to avoid the anguish of having to testify.

Heron, who retired in 2019, was initially accused last year of posing as an active officer to lure girls, including some of his daughter’s friends.

Investigators later discovered dozens of images and videos showing that he committed his heinous acts against dozens of young women and girls over 17 years — often targeting victims who had run away from home, faced legal problems or struggled with addiction.

Last month, prosecutors shared a video of Heron encouraging a young woman to use heroin in the back of his patrol car.

He then videotaped himself assaulting her while she lay unconscious in the back, said Lyandra Retacco, chief of the Special Investigations Unit of the DA’s Office, according to the news outlet.

Before forcing one girl to perform sex acts on him, Heron told her that “it would help you in court to have a police officer on your side,” Sgt. Gerald Rocks reportedly testified.

Authorities have identified 48 victims, but there are likely more who haven’t come forward, Retacco said.