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A federal judge in Jacksonville sentenced Josue Garriga, 35, of
St. Augustine on Monday, according to court records. He pleaded
guilty in July to enticing a child to engage in sexual activity.
“This individual violated his position of trust in the community
and sought to take advantage of a child for his own
satisfaction,” Assistant Special Agent in Charge for Homeland
Security Investigation in Jacksonville Tim Hemker said in a
statement Friday.
Garriga is one of three Jacksonville officers being sued in
federal court for beating Le’Keian Woods last year after he ran
from a traffic stop. The lawsuit alleges they used excessive
force that resulted in permanent injuries to Woods' head, an eye
and a kidney. Sheriff T.K. Waters, who is also Black, has
defended the beating as justified.
According to prosecutors, Garriga was a detective with the
Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office gang unit in 2023 when he met a
17-year-old girl at church. He used his department-issued
cellphone to contact the girl and then used his personal
cellphone to communicate with her using an encrypted app set to
automatically delete messages after 24 hours. Garriga requested
nude photos from the girl and sent her nude photos of himself,
investigators said.
On at least two occasions, Garriga used his work vehicle to
visit the girl's neighborhood to meet up with her and engage in
illegal sexual contact, authorities said. On another occasion,
Garriga enticed the girl to his work vehicle and physically
prevented her from leaving until she performed a sex act on him.
The relationship ended this past March, when the victim's mother
found messages between the girl and Garriga on the girl's phone.
The mother reported the relationship, and Garriga was arrested.
His prison sentence is for 24 years and four months.
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