Authorities identified the suspect as Johnesha Rucker, who was taken into custody on Monday at her residence by a Tennessee fugitive apprehension team. The arrest followed an investigation into a reported sexual assault at the 201 Poplar jail complex in downtown Memphis.
According to law enforcement reports, a tip was received on February 9 alleging that Rucker assaulted an inmate while working at the facility. The case was later forwarded for further investigation, leading to her indictment on charges including rape, official misconduct, and forgery.
Rucker had been employed as a corrections deputy since November 2023. She resigned from her position before the indictment was issued.
Shelby County Sheriff Floyd Bonner Jr stated that the department does not tolerate misconduct by staff and maintains strict accountability standards for employees within the correctional system.
She is currently being held at a female detention facility in Memphis on a $100,000 bond. If convicted, she could face a prison sentence of up to 30 years.
