Spencer Wayne Herron, once a respected member of the Acworth, Georgia community, now stands as a symbol of betrayal and deception. His story unfolds like a chilling thriller, revealing the dark secrets hidden behind the facade of a dedicated teacher and mentor.
Early Life and Career
Spencer Herron was born and raised in Austin, Texas, United States. He grew up in a middle-class family and had a relatively normal childhood. From a young age, Herron showed great interest in filmmaking and storytelling, which later led him to pursue a career in video production.
Herron attended high school in his hometown before he enrolled into Berry College for a Bachelor’s degree. During his time at Kell High School in Marietta, Georgia, he was named “Cobb County’s Teacher of the Year” for 2016-2017. He was a video production teacher at Kell High School and was also a musician and a member of the Air National Guard. He was twice named Cobb County teacher of the year.
Crimes
Spencer Herron was arrested in June 2018 for sexually assaulting at least three of his students. His crimes were committed during the 2016-2017 school year.
Herron used the false pretense of a nonexistent school club, which allowed him to have unrestricted access to his victims. He started grooming one of his victims, a student named Rachel, when she was only 15. He had sex with Rachel after she turned 16. The age of consent in Georgia is 16, but the law prohibits sexual relations between educators and students. Rachel eventually accused Herron, saying the assaults started during summer break in 2016. She said Herron lured her into meetings ‘under the pretense of meeting for a non-existent school club’.
In addition to Rachel, Herron allegedly took advantage of two other female students several times during the 2016-2017 and the 2017-2018 school years. While one of them reportedly told police officers he had sex with her after she’d explicitly told him no, the other claimed he once ordered her to “be quiet” when she started crying.
Herron pleaded guilty to six charges of sexual assault relating to various incidents. Despite the victims being minors, Herron was not charged with statutory rape due to the age of consent being 16 in Georgia. Furthermore, his nearly 60 extramarital affairs (starting from 2012) were allegedly manipulative but not coerced. He was sentenced to five years in prison and 15 years probation. Herron was paroled in mid-2022 and is registered as a sex offender.
Legal Proceedings
Herron’s arrest came after one of his victims, a student named Rachel, accused him of sexually assaulting her. According to court records, Herron began grooming Rachel over summer break in 2016, under the pretense of some work for a non-existent school club. He managed to abuse her several times during the school year, both inside and outside the campus.
In addition to Rachel, Herron allegedly took advantage of two other female students several times during the 2016-2017 and the 2017-2018 school years. While one of them reportedly told police officers he had sex with her after she’d explicitly told him no, the other claimed he once ordered her to “be quiet” when she started crying.
On January 18, 2019, Herron pleaded guilty to five counts of sexual assault. He was sentenced to five years in prison and 15 years probation. Despite these victims being minors, Herron was not charged with statutory rape because the age of consent in Georgia is 16. Furthermore, his nearly 60 extramarital affairs (starting from 2012) were allegedly manipulative but not coerced.
Herron was released from prison on parole in mid-2022 and is registered as a sex offender. Despite securing early release, Herron will spend the next decade and a half on probation and the rest of his life as a registered sex offender.
Life After Prison
Spencer Herron was released from prison on parole in the summer of 2022. After serving his sentence, he is now living a life under strict conditions as a registered sex offender.
As a part of his sentence, Herron was given 15 years of probation, during which he must adhere to certain conditions. These conditions include having no association with minors. Despite securing early release, Herron will spend the next decade and a half on probation and the rest of his life as a registered sex offender.
Currently, Herron resides in Gwinnett County, Georgia. His life after prison is marked by the consequences of his actions, and he lives under the constant scrutiny of being a registered sex offender. His status as a registered sex offender is a lifelong designation that will follow him regardless of where he goes or what he does.
Spencer Herron’s release from prison has raised concerns about his ability to reintegrate into society, given the nature of his crimes and his previous manipulative behavior. His victim’s objective was to ensure the safety of other girls in school, and by sharing her story, significant progress has been made in this regard. She expressed hope that her experience would inspire other victims and their families to stand up for themselves, emphasizing that it is wrong for a trusted adult to exploit their trust and manipulate them into uncomfortable situations. Victims should not carry guilt or shame for what they have endured.
Impact on Victims
Spencer Herron’s crimes had a profound impact on his victims, particularly the student identified as “Rachel”. According to Rachel, the sexual assaults by Herron transformed her from a “happy, carefree, and hopeful teenager to a cynical, angry, and depressed one”. She completely shut herself out from people, withdrew from her family and friends, and by the time she was a senior, she had no communication with anyone that she was involved with at school. She felt like she wasn’t deserving of anything good in her life.
In 2019, Rachel filed a lawsuit against Kell High School’s administrators, including former Principal Ed Wagner, current Principal Andy Bristow, and Vice Principal Susan Stoddard. The lawsuit accused the school’s hierarchy of failing to properly review and vet new clubs and field trips. According to the complaint, the defendants permitted Herron to use the so-called Drone Club as a means to repeatedly sexually assault Rachel at various locations inside Kell High School during or after meetings. Herron also assaulted Rachel on unsanctioned “field trips” away from campus.
Rachel’s lawsuit sought damages and hoped to force the district to implement reforms. She stated, “I hope this shows other victims and their families that they can stand up for themselves too. I want girls to know that it is wrong for a trusted adult to abuse that trust to manipulate them into doing things they are not comfortable with. Victims should also not feel guilty or ashamed of themselves”.
Rachel’s case is a tragic example of the consequences of sexual assault and the impact it can have on a victim’s life. Her courage in speaking out and seeking justice has helped to raise awareness about the importance of protecting students from sexual abuse and the need for school administrators to take responsibility for ensuring student safety
Impact on His Wife
Spencer Herron’s crimes had a profound impact on his wife, Jenifer Faison. For over seven years, Faison believed she was living a fairytale romance with her college sweetheart, Spencer Herron. However, her world came crashing down in June 2018 when police turned up at their Georgia home. She discovered that the man she knew and loved was living a double life. Behind the facade of a loving husband and respected teacher was a web of lies, affairs, and criminal sexual assault perpetrated by Herron against one of his high school students.
Faison’s investigation into her husband’s activities revealed a shocking truth. Herron had been engaging in multiple extramarital affairs throughout their entire relationship. He had cheated on her during the week of their wedding and had six to seven two-year affairs, some of them at the same time. The women Herron had slept with included sex workers and also friends of theirs he cheated with in places including their wine bar and their home.
The discovery of Herron’s double life and serial infidelity was devastating for Faison. She was disgusted by Herron’s actions and decided to divorce him. Despite the end of their marriage, Faison continues to grapple with frustration and anger towards the seemingly lenient punishment Herron received for his offences. She has moved forward with her life, but the actions of her ex-husband have left a lasting impact.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Spencer Herron’s life after prison has been marked by his status as a registered sex offender and his probation requirements. His crimes have had a significant impact on his personal and professional life, and his release from prison has raised concerns about his ability to reintegrate into society. His victim’s objective was to ensure the safety of other girls in school, and by sharing her story, significant progress has been made in this regard.
Spencer Herron’s story serves as a cautionary tale—a reminder that appearances can deceive, and trust can be misplaced. As we grapple with the aftermath of his crimes, we must strive to protect the vulnerable and ensure that justice prevails.
