PRESS RELEASE

Madison County Sheriff’s Office

Huntsville, Alabama

Blake L. Dorning-Sheriff

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE- Indictment of a Madison County Sheriff’s Office School Resource Officer

January 16, 2016

Sheriff Blake announced today the return of a Madison County Circuit Court Grand Jury indictment of a former Madison County Sheriff’s Office SRO. Indicted on 1/15/2016 was Jerome Heard, age 41, previously a resident of Madison County and who had been employed with the Sheriff’s Office since 2009.  He resigned on 1/4/2016 and has relocated out-of-state. He was also a former Huntsville Police Officer and served with them from 2003-2007.

Heard was indicted on two charges:

One count of Alabama Statute Title 13A-6-81 - School employee engaging in a sex act or deviant sexual intercourse with a student under the age of 19 years. This is a Class B felony punishable from two to ten years with the Alabama Department of Corrections.

One count of Alabama Statute Title 13A-6-63 – Sodomy in the first degree.  This is a Class A felony punishable from ten years to life with the Alabama Department of Corrections.

Heard turned himself in to the Madison County Detention Facility last evening and has posted a $70,000 bond and was released.

Heard had been assigned to Sparkman High School in the 2012-2013 school year, Monrovia Middle School in the 2013-2014 school year, and was most recently assigned to Meridianville Middle School at the start of the 2015 school year. Once allegations of these violations were discovered he was removed from having any contact at Madison County Schools and placed on an alternate assignment.

The Sheriff’s Office is asking for the public’s assistance if any additional information may be in the community about former Deputy Heard or if there is anyone that would like to come forward and speak with an investigator. Our Criminal Investigation Division number is 256-533-8820.

Heard arrest was based upon probable cause and he should be considered to be innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

Questions concerning this release may be directed to Madison County Sheriff’s Office Lt. Mike Salomonsky at 256-533-8820