MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Marvin Bruce, the man accused of robbing and raping a 17-year-old boy, had his first court appearance for the charges on Monday.
WREG went to Bruce’s listed address where his grandmother answered the door but refused to talk about the alleged rape charges.
However, the family member did defend the suspect’s character.
“You know? Hung around with the wrong people, but he’s a good person,” Bruce’s grandmother said.
WREG did some digging into Bruce’s past and found he has been in and out of jail for years.
Bruce’s record showed theft, attempted burglary, assault, drug and robbery charges.
“He unbuckled his pants and pulled out a condom and made me put it on him,” the teenage victim told WREG.
The teenager relived the memory of being robbed and raped.
Police said Bruce is the man responsible.
“…saying you must not know who I am — talking about he just did 11 years and stuff,” the victim said.
Bruce just got out of jail not too long ago for beating his child’s mother and a handful of other domestic violence convictions.
“Have he really learned his lesson? If you get back out and do the same thing or something similar to it, you haven’t really learned your lesson,” L.C. Tate, who lives in North Memphis, said.
Some people who spoke with WREG said if Bruce is found guilty, he deserves much more than additional jail time.
“The man shouldn’t even see daylight meaning not be locked up — like death sentence,” Tate explained. “Don’t know if I can say that or what not. I don’t care, but doing stuff like that, come on man. You don’t deserve life because you don’t respect life.”
Bruce’s latest accused victim said he is taking it day by day.
“I’m still upset and confused but I’m doing better,” the teenager said.
Bruce is due back in court on Tuesday, June 16.
