A former Vero Beach cop was sentenced to life in prison on
three counts of lewd or lascivious sexual battery Tuesday by St. Johns County
Circuit Court Judge Terry LaRue.
St. Augustine businessman James Scharfschwerdt, 55, was
convicted Dec. 11 on the charges involving a victim who is now a senior in high
school.
The victim said Scharfschwerdt won his trust as a
14-year-old and took advantage of it. Due to a recent court ruling, prosecutors
were allowed to present testimony from the accuser in this case as well as
three other men. Ranging in age from 18 to 37, they talked about similar sexual
encounters with Scharfschwerdt when they were minors.
Scharfschwerdt was also an Indian River County sheriff’s
deputy.