JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — A former Florida detective accused of severely beating a black man has been sentenced to nearly 25 years in federal prison for sexually exploiting a teenage girl.

A federal judge in Jacksonville on Monday sentenced Josue Garriga, 35, of St. Augustine, according to court records. He pleaded guilty in July to enticing a child to engage in sexual activity.

“This individual violated his position of trust in the community and sought to take advantage of a child for his own gratification,” Jacksonville Homeland Security Investigations Assistant Special Agent in Charge Tim Hemker said Friday.

Garriga is one of three Jacksonville officers sued in federal court for beating Le’Keian Woods last year after he fled a traffic stop. The lawsuit alleges they used excessive force that resulted in permanent injuries to Woods’ head, an eye and a kidney. Sheriff TK Waters, who is also black, defended the beating as justified.

According to prosecutors, Garriga was a detective with the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office gang unit in 2023 when he met a 17-year-old girl at church. He used his department-issued cell phone to contact the girl and then used his personal cell phone to communicate with her using an encrypted app set to automatically delete messages after 24 hours. Garriga asked the girl for nude photos and sent her nude photos of himself, investigators said.

On at least two occasions, Garriga used his work vehicle to visit the girl’s neighborhood to meet her and engage in illegal sexual contact, authorities said. On another occasion, Garriga lured the girl to his work vehicle and physically prevented her from leaving until he sexually assaulted her.

The relationship ended last March when the victim’s mother found messages between the girl and Garriga on the girl’s phone. The mother reported the relationship and Garriga was arrested. His prison sentence is 24 years and four months.