Birmingham police officer charged with first-degree rape in Alabaster

Joshua HerbingerShelby County Jail 

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.