By Carol Robinson
ALABASTER, Alabama - A
Birmingham police officer arrested earlier this month on child sex abuse
charges is now charged with rape of an adult woman.
Joshua Herbinger, 29, was
arrested in Alabaster Monday, said Alabaster Police Chief Curtis Rigney. It is
the second arrest for Herbinger in Alabaster, and Rigney said more charges
could follow.
Herbinger is now charged with
first-degree rape. Rigney said he couldn't release additional details about the
case, but said the victim was not in any kind of domestic relationship with the
officer.
Herbinger, a 9-year BPD
veteran, was arrested at Alabaster's police headquarters Monday and released
the same day after posting $60,000 bond.
In the earlier case, Herbinger
was arrested Oct. 9 after a young female victim reported the abuse to the
School Resource Officer at her school. The chief said the victim is not related
to Herbinger. The abuse, police said, is reported to have happened over the
past two to three years.
Herbinger was charged with four
counts of sexual abuse of a child less than 12 years old. He was released from
jail on $80,000 in that case. He is set to have a hearing on the child sex
abuse charges Nov. 5.
Herbinger is a crime scene
technician, but has been on administrative duty with pay since his Oct. 9
arrest. Police officials said he is expected to be placed on leave without pay
following the second arrest.
Rigney said the investigation
is ongoing and more charges could be filed. Anyone with information about the
case is asked to call Alabaster police Det. Andrew Pounds at 205-663-7401.
