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Josue Garriga, 34, is facing five felony charges for sex crimes with a minor. The judge on Thursday denied his attorney’s request to have his bond total lowered.
CLAY COUNTY, Fla. — Jacksonville sheriff’s officer Josue Garriga, 34, who was arrested on a warrant Wednesday on accusations of sex crimes with a minor, made his first court appearance Thursday morning in Clay County.
Garriga is charged with five counts total, see below:
- Lewd and lascivious behavior, a third-degree felony
- Obscene communication traveling to meet a minor after using a computer or electronic device, a second-degree felony
- Lewd or lascivious touching with a person 17 years of age or older, a third-degree felony
- Cruelty to child transmit harmful information to a minor, a third-degree felony
- Unlawful use of a two-way communications device, a third-degree felony
The judge presiding over Garriga’s first appearance, set his bond for each count at $75,003, which amounts to $375,015 total.
If released after posting bond, the judge ordered Garriga to not have any contact with the victim, “that means no contact whatsoever through social media, telephone, text messaging or coming in personal contact with her,” the judge said. The judge also said that Garriga would have a GPS monitor placed on himself, said he is to not have contact with any minors, would be prohibited from accessing the internet or possessing a device that’s capable of accessing the internet, and told him that he is not allowed to possess any firearms.
Garriga’s attorney, Daniel Scott Monroe, who was in attendance for the first court appearance, told the judge that Garriga has two children including a 10-year-old daughter with special needs that “does require around the clock care,” and that he is the “primary breadwinner” of his family.
“His inability to post bond, which he would be most likely unable to post at the present amount, would basically prevent the wife from either being able to work or care for the child, either way would leave them potentially destitute,” Monroe said. “With four out of the five [charges] being third-degree felonies, I would just ask that the court if they would entertain lowering each one down to 40,000 [dollars], or on the third-degree felonies, if the court would be willing to lower it relative to the second-degree felony.”
Monroe further stated that Garriga has lived in the Jacksonville area his whole life, doesn’t believe he is a “flight risk” if released on bond, and doesn’t have a prior record, as the judge then denied the request.
“However, it can certainly be brought up in circuit court,” the judge said to Monroe.
Garriga’s next court date is April 23 at 9 a.m., “if not sooner,” the judge said.
