Post by KC on Aug 7, 2006 0:12:37 GMT -5
Officer Damien Steele
August 06, 2006 - The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation arrested a former Robertson County Sheriff’s deputy on 61 counts of rape of a child and 60 counts of aggravated sexual battery last week.
The crimes reportedly occurred in Robertson County during a span of about 10 years.
Officer Damien Steele, 43, of 6586 Clarksville Highway in Goodlettsville, was arrested July 25.
The TBI launched its investigation several months ago after a woman came forward and said that Steele had raped and fondled her multiple times between the years 1994 and 1998.
The unidentified victim told authorities the alleged crimes began when she was seven years old and ended during her junior year in high school, according to TBI spokeswoman Jennifer Johnson.
“We located (Steele) pursuing law enforcement in the Florida panhandle,” Johnson said. “Since the (alleged) incidents occurred in Robertson County, the case will go to court in Robertson County,”
At this time, officials with the Robertson County Circuit Court Clerk’s office say they are unsure when the case will be in court.
Steele was employed at the Robertson County Sheriff’s office from April of 1998 until February 2002, when he left to take a job with Goodlettsville Police, according to his personnel records.
Prior to serving as a deputy with the Sheriff’s office, Steele was reportedly a police officer in Ridgetop. However, officials with Ridgetop police could not provide specific dates of employment for Steele but did confirm that he had worked for their department at one time.
According to officials at the Robertson County Jail, Steele was being held there on a $50,000 bond until “a few days ago.”
Now, officials say he is no longer in Robertson County and they will not release where he is currently being held.
www.rctimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060802/MTCN0301/308020112/1304