Veteran cop, Iraq war veteran, husband and father of three Joshua Spratt is under fire after being accused sexual encounters with two teenagers outside of cemeteries and and elementary school. The 34-year old Watervliet Police Officer is accused of ‘exploiting a position working with high school students to lure his victims.’
Read more below.
According to police reports and the indictment Spratt allegedly had sexual relationships with a 16 and 17 year old girl. Between the months of February and April the once respected officer engaged in oral sex with the 16-year old girl in parking lots at a local school and two cemeteries.
Spratt will only be charged with official misconduct for his encounters with the 17 year old girl as the age of consent is 17.
The officer is looking at felony charges of third-degree criminal acts, misdemeanor charges of child endangerment and official misconduct. Spratt pleaded not guilty to all charges and is out on $50,000 bail. If found guilty he could face up to 16 years behind bars.
Watervliet Police Chief Ronald Boisvert released a statement saying, “For me personally, (the accusations are) a shock, particularly with Officer Spratt because he hadn’t exhibited any of this type of behavior to us.”
The Watervliet City School District also released a statement about Spratt, calling his accusations “an egregious and unforgiveable (sic) betrayal of the trust we all placed in him.”
The officer had spent 10 years on the Watervliet Police force, before serving the last two working as an unpaid resource officer at the Watervliet High School, where his job was promote student safety. School officials said,”hat seemingly charitable service gave him easy access to the girls.”
Source NYDailyNews
