MEMPHIS, Tenn. — WREG is learning more about a man accused of a heinous crime in Whitehaven.
Stanley Jefferson was arrested Monday after Memphis Police said he admitted to posing as a Shelby County Sheriff’s deputy in order to break into a woman’s house. Detectives said he beat the woman unconscious, raped her then stole her car.
Jefferson was wearing a GPS ankle monitor and was a registered sex offender when this crime occurred back in September.
Police said although Jefferson had on the monitor, they still had to go through other steps to make sure they had the right guy, news that is shocking to those who know him.
“I was like damn! That’s my next-door neighbor. I was like wow…so close!”
A woman who lives nearby where Jefferson used to live couldn’t contain her surprise Tuesday.
The woman, who did not want to be identified for security reasons, said she was dumbfounded when she saw Jefferson’s mugshot on her TV.
“I didn’t even know he was on that status.”
The Whitehaven woman said Jefferson frequently came into her home.
“We sat and talked. I mean he like a friend to me and he ain’t never did me wrong.”
According to police he did a lot wrong. They said he posed as a sheriff’s deputy and forced his way into a woman’s home off Fairfield in September. Police said he admitted to beating her unconscious, raping her and stealing her cellphone and car. A rape kit was collected.
At the time he was wearing an ankle GPS monitor for another sex crime he committed. The Tennessee Department of Corrections said offenders are allowed to go about their daily lives but can’t go into exclusion zones.
“You can’t be near daycares, you can’t be near playgrounds, you can’t be near school zones. Those are exclusionary areas,” said Neysa Taylor with the Department of Corrections.
There’s a park and playground across the street from where the attack happened. MPD said although Jefferson had the monitor on they still had to go through the steps of the investigation. In this case the monitor helped detectives, placing him inside the home at the time of the crime.
“We can give them tracking records where movements have been and that can help in their investigation as well,” explained Taylor.
The Shelby County District Attorney’s Office said Jefferson was in court Tuesday morning. He’s supposed to be back in May where he’ll appear before a judge with an attorney. His bond is $750,000.
