Former Bibb County Deputy Sheriff Convicted of Sexual Exploitation

| December 18, 2015 

 ========= Old Image Removed =========Array
(
    [_wp_attached_file] => Array
        (
            [0] => 2015/12/Bibb-sheriff_logo.png
        )

    [_wp_attachment_metadata] => Array
        (
            [0] => a:5:{s:5:"width";i:225;s:6:"height";i:220;s:4:"file";s:29:"2015/12/Bibb-sheriff_logo.png";s:5:"sizes";a:3:{s:9:"thumbnail";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:29:"Bibb-sheriff_logo-140x140.png";s:5:"width";i:140;s:6:"height";i:140;s:9:"mime-type";s:9:"image/png";}s:9:"wbhm-icon";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:27:"Bibb-sheriff_logo-80x80.png";s:5:"width";i:80;s:6:"height";i:80;s:9:"mime-type";s:9:"image/png";}s:14:"post-thumbnail";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:29:"Bibb-sheriff_logo-125x125.png";s:5:"width";i:125;s:6:"height";i:125;s:9:"mime-type";s:9:"image/png";}}s:10:"image_meta";a:12:{s:8:"aperture";s:1:"0";s:6:"credit";s:0:"";s:6:"camera";s:0:"";s:7:"caption";s:0:"";s:17:"created_timestamp";s:1:"0";s:9:"copyright";s:0:"";s:12:"focal_length";s:1:"0";s:3:"iso";s:1:"0";s:13:"shutter_speed";s:1:"0";s:5:"title";s:0:"";s:11:"orientation";s:1:"0";s:8:"keywords";a:0:{}}}
        )

    [_media_credit] => Array
        (
            [0] => Conner395
        )

    [_navis_media_credit_org] => Array
        (
            [0] => 
        )

    [_navis_media_can_distribute] => Array
        (
            [0] => 
        )

    [_imagify_optimization_level] => Array
        (
            [0] => 1
        )

    [_imagify_data] => Array
        (
            [0] => a:2:{s:5:"stats";a:3:{s:13:"original_size";i:114295;s:14:"optimized_size";i:39829;s:7:"percent";d:65.150000000000006;}s:5:"sizes";a:4:{s:4:"full";a:5:{s:7:"success";b:1;s:8:"file_url";s:57:"https://news.wbhm.org/media/2015/12/Bibb-sheriff_logo.png";s:13:"original_size";i:44855;s:14:"optimized_size";i:18310;s:7:"percent";d:59.18;}s:9:"thumbnail";a:5:{s:7:"success";b:1;s:8:"file_url";s:65:"https://news.wbhm.org/media/2015/12/Bibb-sheriff_logo-140x140.png";s:13:"original_size";i:31267;s:14:"optimized_size";i:9330;s:7:"percent";d:70.159999999999997;}s:9:"wbhm-icon";a:5:{s:7:"success";b:1;s:8:"file_url";s:63:"https://news.wbhm.org/media/2015/12/Bibb-sheriff_logo-80x80.png";s:13:"original_size";i:11187;s:14:"optimized_size";i:3749;s:7:"percent";d:66.489999999999995;}s:14:"post-thumbnail";a:5:{s:7:"success";b:1;s:8:"file_url";s:65:"https://news.wbhm.org/media/2015/12/Bibb-sheriff_logo-125x125.png";s:13:"original_size";i:26986;s:14:"optimized_size";i:8440;s:7:"percent";d:68.719999999999999;}}}
        )

    [_imagify_status] => Array
        (
            [0] => success
        )

)
1670470389 
1450454516

A former Bibb County deputy sheriff has been convicted on six criminal charges stemming from allegations that he sexually exploited women he encountered during traffic stops.

Alabama Attorney General Luther Strange announced the conviction of Ervin Heard today

Heard, 44, of Centreville, was found guilty on December 17, 2015, of charges of custodial sexual misconduct, first degree sexual abuse, second degree human trafficking, intimidating a witness, unlawful imprisonment and harassing communications.  Heard was fired from the Bibb County Sheriff’s Office in 2013 for behavior unbecoming a law enforcement officer.

During the trial, seven female witnesses testified that Heard, while on duty as a deputy sheriff, solicited and received sexual favors from them in exchange for not taking them to jail for various offenses.  Evidence showed that Heard transported at least one of these female victims in his patrol car to the Sheriff’s Office for the purpose of forcing her to perform a sexual act.

“Law enforcement personnel are sworn to protect the public,” said Attorney General Strange. “When someone crosses the line and abuses their authority there can be no excuse.  The defendant, while an officer of the law, chose to ignore his duty to protect and defend.  He should therefore be held accountable to the law and face the full measure of justice.”

Heard is scheduled to be sentenced on May 23, 2016. The Attorney General’s Criminal Trials Division prosecuted the case at the request of the Bibb County District Attorney’s Office, which recused itself from the case.

 

Light from satellites will ruin majority of some space telescope images, study says

Astronomers have long been concerned about reflections from satellites showing up in images taken by telescopes and other scientific instruments.

Defense Department is reviewing boat strike video for possible release, Hegseth says

In a speech on Saturday, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth defended the strikes, saying: "President Trump can and will take decisive military action as he sees fit to defend our nation's interests."

Bama, Miami in, Notre Dame out and Indiana No. 1 in College Football Playoff rankings

Nobody paying attention for the past 24 months would be surprised to see Indiana – yes, Indiana – leading the way into this year's College Football Playoff.

McLaren’s Lando Norris wins first F1 title at season-ending Abu Dhabi Grand Prix

Red Bull driver and defending champion Max Verstappen won the race with Norris placing third, which allowed Norris to finish two points ahead of Verstappen in the season-long standings.

A ban on feeding pigeons ruffles lots of feathers in Mumbai

The pigeon population has exploded — a result of people feeding the birds. For some it's a holy duty and a way to connect to nature. Critics point to health risks tied to exposure to pigeon droppings.

UN humanitarian chief: world needs to ‘wake up’ and help stop violence in Sudan

The UN's top humanitarian and emergency relief official has told NPR that the lack of attention from world leaders to the war in Sudan is the "billion dollar question".

More Front Page Coverage