Man convicted as sex offender in MS arrested in Memphis
MEMPHIS, Tenn. — A registered sex offender’s history of abuse is coming to light after he was arrested in Memphis last week.
When Terry Ketchum, 22, was arrested in Memphis last week on sexual assault and rape charges stemming from an incident in Olive Branch, it wasn’t his first time on law enforcement’s radar.
It also wasn’t the first time he’d been connected to a sex charge, which includes one count of sexual battery and two counts of rape.
TN registered sex offender charged with new child sex crimes
The Desoto County District Attorney’s office confirms the victim in the latest case was a child.
“It does involve a minor child and so, of course, (I’m) limited on the details for privacy reasons and respect to the victim and their family,” said Matthew Barton, Desoto County District Attorney. “But it’s a three-count indictment.”
Ketchum’s 2018 case on The Sex Offender registry, also says it involved sexual battery by an authority figure.
Barton isn’t saying how Ketchum came in contact with the child, only that he saw an opportunity to offend again and he allegedly did.
“It’s a real shame, but it’s important for the public to safeguard our children and loved ones,” Barton said. “We have to be aware of the type of opportunities that we leave for other people – sex offenders tend to repeat when they’re given the opportunity.”
All the more reason authorities wanted to nab him as soon as possible. Which is why, they called a special task force to bring him in.
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“The task force is comprised of many agencies that help us locate individuals and apprehend them swiftly so that justice won’t have to wait quite as long,” Barton said.
Barton also says that getting these cases handled quickly sends a message to the victims.
“It’s important that our victims see that everyone is working together to make things happen quickly so that hopefully they can sleep at night knowing not only was this person indicted, but they’ve already been arrested,” Barton said.
As of now, there is no word when Ketchum will be back in court.
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