MEMPHIS, Tenn. — A former Memphis Police Officer who pleaded guilty to statutory rape of a teenager is now a free man.
Jeffrey Jones appeared before a judge Wednesday morning for the first time since being on probation for a year. It took only 40 seconds for Jones to learn his case had been dismissed.
“Mr. Jones has totally complied with all court orders. He’s successfully completed the one year of diversion probation. As a result, the case is dismissed,” said Arthur Quinn, Jones’ Attorney.
Jones was originally facing two counts of rape and a sexual battery charge by an authority figure.
Former MPD officer accused of child sex crime could avoid jail time, despite plea
His 2019 indictment stated he “sexually penetrated” and “intentionally engaged in sexual contact” with a teenage girl.
However, one year ago he took an Alford plea to a lesser charge of statutory rape.
The victim who was 15 at the time of the incident, took to the stand to express her disappointment with the plea deal.
“This so-called man sitting in front of me gets to walk free. Free to do this again because he got away with something, and it’s unforgivable in the eyes of God,” the victim said.
Jones was given a one-year judicial diversion at the state’s recommendation.
The public may never know what came of the investigation and what evidence was collected that led to the plea deal.
Former MPD officer gets plea deal in statutory rape case
Jones’s attorney says they plan on getting the statutory rape charge expunged from his record.
This means the case files would be sealed.
Due to state law, WREG had to wait one year to request the case files, but the request has still gone unanswered.
Jones was terminated from MPD in 2020, and the department requested his decertification, meaning he can no longer be a law enforcement officer in Tennessee.
Since the case has been dismissed and charges will likely be erased from Jones’s record, we asked Quinn if his client plans to seek law enforcement work in another state.
His attorney said, “I’m not going to comment on any of that.”
WREG has reached out to the District Attorney’s office for a response and is waiting to hear back.
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