Spencer Herron went from “Teacher of the Year” to convicted felon overnight. Once touted as a local hero, Herron’s crimes were more extensive and insidious than anyone could have guessed. Even more shockingly, following his guilty plea and sentencing, many felt he never seemed to express true remorse or even understanding of the far-reaching consequences of his actions.
His release date has caused a lot of concern, as many worry he may still be very much a danger to society. So we decided to do a little digging to see where exactly Herron is now.
What did Spencer Herron do?
Spencer Herron, then 48, was the “cool” teacher at Kell High School in Cobb County, Georgia. Head of the video production department and voted Teacher of the Year, he was exceptionally close to his students, yet no one would have believed how damaging the effects of those relationships would be.
By all outward appearances, Herron was happily married to his wife, TV producer Jenifer Faison, for over seven years at the time. So when rumors began to surface around Herron’s alarmingly close relationships with his students, they were initially brushed off. Yet it turned out, they weren’t just rumors. On June 1st, 2018 Herron was arrested for having sexual relations with a student, but the arrest was just the beginning.
When Herron was arrested for assault on a student, his wife Jenifer, decided to do some digging. She found that not only had Herron sexually assaulted a student, but he had been intimate with dozens of women throughout their marriage, with 60 known affairs discovered. Some of the affairs were one-night stands while others extended over a 2-3 year period. He had even cheated on her the week of their wedding.
When it was revealed that Herron had been with escorts and sex workers, Jenifer got herself tested and discovered she had contracted chlamydia from her husband. Her entire world went up in smoke. The saga was captured on the podcast Betrayal, and in the Hulu documentary Betrayal: The Perfect Husband.
As even more layers of who the real Spencer Herron was unfolded, another horrible truth was revealed. It turned out that the student he had assaulted, identified as “Rachel,” wasn’t alone. At least two other students came forward and accused Herron of similar offenses. Other students reported that while no actual assault occurred with them, they experienced predatory and intrusive behavior on his part, and several adult women said he was pushy, aggressive, and manipulative.
Is Spencer Herron out of prison?
Spencer Herron was arrested on June 1st, 2018, and charged with six counts of sexual assault against students. He pled guilty and was sentenced to six years in prison and 15 on probation including registering as a sex offender and following certain conditions, including no association with minors. Herron was released in the summer of 2022. He is registered as a sex offender and on probation in Gwinnett County, Georgia.
Concern for Herron’s return to society remains. While there are strict conditions surrounding his probation and sex offender status, Herron’s previous acts went undetected for years. He also revealed to his now ex-wife Jen, during a recorded call from prison, that when he was released, he intended to “fly under the radar.”
While he is released, little is known about his current activities. He must check in with a probation officer and register himself as a sex offender but his public profile has been very low-key. No further information on his private life or known public statements have been issued on his behalf or in response to the documentary.
So yes, Spencer Herron is officially released. The verdict on his supposed rehabilitation and ability to re-integrate into society, however, is still out. Check out the documentary detailing all of his despicable deeds on Hulu.