Hillsborough County detectives on Wednesday asked for the public’s help tracking down 21-year-old Joshua Abercrombie, who investigators say is wanted on multiple felony counts, including sexual battery and kidnapping. The Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office (HCSO) also lists felony battery, tampering with a witness, and tampering with physical evidence among the alleged charges. Authorities are urging anyone with information to call in tips and to avoid approaching anyone they believe may be Abercrombie.
HCSO Names Abercrombie in 'Warrant Wednesday' Post
Detectives featured Abercrombie in this week’s “Warrant Wednesday” social media spotlight, laying out his age and the list of alleged charges and asking the community to send in tips, according to the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office. The post carries the tag #teamHCSO and urges residents to call investigators rather than take matters into their own hands if they believe they have spotted a wanted person.
'Warrant Wednesday' Aims to Crowdsource Leads
The sheriff’s office uses its weekly “Warrant Wednesday” posts to spotlight people with outstanding warrants in the hope that a familiar face jogs someone’s memory. The campaign’s weekly push has helped steer tips to detectives in earlier cases, with online attention occasionally giving stalled investigations a second wind.
What the Charges Mean Under Florida Law
Under Florida law, “kidnapping” is defined as “forcibly, secretly, or by threat confining, abducting, or imprisoning another person against his or her will,” the Florida Statutes explain. The state’s sexual battery statute classifies sexual battery as oral, anal, or vaginal penetration without consent and outlines enhanced penalties when certain circumstances apply.
Tampering with a witness or with physical evidence is treated as a separate felony offense that can add to a defendant’s potential exposure if convicted, according to the Florida Statutes.
Legal Implications
If Abercrombie is arrested and later convicted, the felony counts listed could carry serious prison time under Florida’s sentencing scheme, along with potential mandatory registration requirements and enhanced penalties in certain situations. FindLaw notes that Florida’s sexual battery laws are broad and can lead to lengthy terms of incarceration and long-lasting collateral consequences. Abercrombie, like any suspect, is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in court.
How to Report Tips
Anyone who believes they have information about Abercrombie’s whereabouts is asked to call the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office non-emergency tip line at 813-247-8200 or Crime Stoppers of Tampa Bay at 1-800-873-8477, according to the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office. Authorities stress that members of the public should not attempt to confront or detain anyone they believe to be wanted and should instead let detectives handle any follow-up.
