PENSACOLA SURGEON GUILT OF RAPE

54 year old Dr. Francis Herrbold, a surgeon from Pensacola Beach, was found guilty last Thursday of raping a woman in Walton County in 2023. The jury delivered their decision after hearing evidence related to the incident, which occurred on June 24 during a fishing tournament at Sandestin Marina. Herrbold was on the victim's yacht when he assaulted her after friends had left for the night. Judge J. Ryan Love has remanded Herrbold into custody, pending sentencing set for June 3, where he faces a maximum of 15 years in prison. Prior to the allegations, Herrbold practiced at HCA Florida West Hospital, which suspended him following the charges. Court documents reveal that the victim kicked him off after waking up during the assault, while Herrbold allegedly told her, "this never happened." The woman reported the incident to law enforcement the following day, leading to the legal proceedings that culminated in the guilty verdict.