EDISON, N.J. (1010 WINS) — A former Middlesex County New Jersey Sheriff’s Department deputy was sentenced by a Philadelphia federal court on Thursday to 15 years in prison — the mandatory minimum — for sexually abusing a 17-year-old girl.
In a separate case, 37-year-old Joshua Padilla also admitted to attempting to lure a 14-year-old girl to his home for sex. In reality, he was communicating with an agent of the Pennsylvania Attorney General’s Office.
He is also currently being tried in Monmouth County New Jersey for raping three unconscious women and girls.
In the spring of 2018, Padilla drove the minor to Pennsylvania, where he sexually assaulted her in his car, recorded video of the act and posted it online.
He pleaded guilty to production, distribution and possession of child pornography in December 2021.
“While child exploitation cases are always horrendous, the conduct in this case is particularly offensive because of Padilla’s position of authority and trust in the community as a law enforcement officer,” said U.S. Attorney Jacqueline Romero. “We stand ready with our federal, state and local partners to identify and prosecute those who would prey upon minor children — no matter who they are.”
While he was being investigated for his attack on the 17-year-old, law enforcement started communicating with him posing as a 14-year-old girl.
He was sentenced to five to 10 years in prison for trying to lure who he thought was a child to his house for sex. The sentence must be served consecutively to the 15-year sentence.
When police first arrested Padilla, they allegedly found videos on his phone of him raping unconscious women and girls.
In that case, he was indicted for aggravated sexual assault invasion of privacy, aggravated criminal sexual contact and endangering the welfare of a child.
That trial is still ongoing.
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