logo
Man found guilty of raping teen relative

Man found guilty of raping teen relative

Yahoo08-05-2025
MEMPHIS, Tenn. — A man has been found guilty of raping his teen relative back in 2020, the Shelby County District Attorney's Office says.
On February 27, 2020, 35-year-old Ledarrius Stokes attacked and raped his 15-year-old relative at a local motel just days after the teen's birthday.
Prosecutors say that despite the absence of physical evidence and DNA, the victim gave a 'powerful and credible' testimony during the trial.
'This was a difficult case, but our office remains committed to pursuing justice in every case, especially those involving young victims,' said Steve Mulroy, the District Attorney. 'We are pleased with the verdict and proud of the victim's bravery.'
Sentencing for the guilty verdict will be set for a later date.
Stokes also has two additional pending cases for aggravated assault charges.
In March 2020, Stokes was arrested after exchanging gunfire with a female Church's Chicken employee.
Police say Stokes had been at the restaurant earlier with his girlfriend, who works there. She called the store and told them he was coming back to shoot up the place, and then came back and locked all of the employees inside.
Stokes allegedly fired numerous shots through the drive-thru window at one particular employee, who fired back. She then went out and started shooting in the parking lot.
He was charged with aggravated assault, convicted felon in possession of a gun, reckless endangerment, and vandalism in that case.
In the Shelby County Criminal Justice System Portal, the suspect's name is spelled two different ways — Ledarrius Stokes and Ladarrius Stokes.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Girlfriend's mother charged in connection with Jimmijion Bailey slaying
Girlfriend's mother charged in connection with Jimmijion Bailey slaying

Chicago Tribune

time12-07-2025

  • Chicago Tribune

Girlfriend's mother charged in connection with Jimmijion Bailey slaying

After Jimmijion Bailey was shot dead in his new girlfriend's Gary apartment in October, authorities said Ralph Stokes II had help to dispose of his body. Now, the woman's mother is the second person formally implicated in the case. Betty Ann Tomlinson, 50, was charged Thursday afternoon with arson, conspiracy to commit arson and assisting a criminal. She is in custody, held on a $4,500 bond. Lake County Prosecutor's Homicide Task Force Detective Jason Szemes wrote that Tomlinson bought cleaning supplies for Stokes from a Walgreens on Oct. 6. Then, she bought two bottles of lighter fluid around 3 a.m. Oct. 11 from a Citgo gas station in Gary. Investigators found three nearly empty liter fluid bottles – including the two she bought – left in the apartment. Bailey, 25, of Gary, went missing on Oct. 5. His body was found decapitated Oct. 11 on the 2300 block of Clay Street with his arms and knees bound with black tape. Stokes, 24, was charged in his murder. Bailey's relatives said previously he had just started dating the woman a few weeks earlier and Stokes, her child's father, was jealous. Police learned bits of the conversation after he was killed. 'Why would you do that with our child present,' the woman screamed. 'That's who I am,' Stokes responded. Stokes claimed in a police interview that he shot Bailey in self-defense. License plate readers showed Bailey showed up at the apartment on Oct. 5. Later, his Chrysler 200 was driven off, followed by a black Audi toward 9th and Roosevelt, to ditch Bailey's car, before the black car headed back to the apartment. Then, the black Audi and Ford Flex head to the 2300 block of Clay Street, where Bailey's body was later found. An Infiniti also showed up at the apartment for 20 minutes that night. Those vehicles were all registered to Stokes' relatives, records show. When police executed a search warrant on Oct. 11 in the girlfriend's apartment on the 500 block of Vermillion Place, they were hit with 'an overpowering chemical odor' and saw 'several lighter fluid bottles' on the floor. Some flooring in the hallway was 'melted.' The apartment appeared to be mostly cleared out — aside from a bed, an air mattress and kids clothes in another room. In the main bedroom, cops saw what appeared to be several spots of dried blood, and a large 'reddish colored stain' under a blanket on the mattress. When detectives cut through the mattress, it looked blood-soaked, like someone had tried to torch the apartment by lighting it on fire. Investigators were tipped off on Oct. 10 that Bailey was shot inside the girlfriend's apartment. His body was moved to the bathroom for several hours. His car was taken to 9th and Roosevelt to 'throw off the investigation.' The girlfriend changed her number after Bailey was killed, the affidavit states. Betty Tomlinson was pulled over in the Ford Flex after she left the Stokes' home on Oct. 12. At the police station, she asked for a lawyer. During his police interview, Stokes angrily pointed the finger at his former girlfriend, alleging she put the events in motion by inviting him over that day to help put together a bedroom set for their child. During Stokes' bail hearings, police said Tomlinson bought cleaning supplies from a Portage Walgreens just before 2:30 a.m. Oct. 6 for him – including microfiber towels, duct tape, hydrogen peroxide, Lysol, bleach and disposable gloves. The car then returned to the girlfriend's apartment. Stokes' next bail hearing is in August. Anyone with more information can call Szemes at 219-755-3855.

In police interview, Gary man claimed self-defense; victim later found decapitated
In police interview, Gary man claimed self-defense; victim later found decapitated

Chicago Tribune

time18-06-2025

  • Chicago Tribune

In police interview, Gary man claimed self-defense; victim later found decapitated

As two Gary homicide detectives tried to pry information out of Ralph Stokes, Jr., he told them he shot Jimmijion Bailey before the other man could kill him. 'I made a mistake, but it was out of self-defense,' he said on a videotaped recording. Police and the victim's family disagreed. The shooting was over 'pure jealousy,' his sister Jakyla Bailey told the Post-Tribune in October. He started dating Stokes' child's mother about three weeks earlier, she said. Stokes, 24, was charged Oct. 13 with murder in Bailey's shooting death on Oct. 5. His body was found decapitated Oct. 11 on the 2300 block of Clay Street with his arms and knees bound with black tape. He is the only person charged in the case and has pleaded not guilty. Prosecutors played part of his Oct. 12 police interview during Stokes' third bail hearing Tuesday. Stokes claimed as Bailey turned, he saw an 'extended clip' under the other man's shirt and fired one shot. When police asked where he shot Bailey, he claimed he didn't know. 'He could have taken me out,' Stokes said earlier in the interview. 'It was either me or him.' Gary Police investigations Cmdr. Ed Gonzalez and Det. Jason Szemes told Stokes evidence including the city's license plate readers showed he had help disposing Bailey's body. Was the body transported in your relative's car, Gonzales asked him. I am just taking responsibility for what I did, Stokes responded. A fourth bail hearing is on Aug. 1. The hearings will determine the strength of the evidence against him and if Stokes would be released before trial. Bailey's mother called police after he stopped responding to her calls and texts around 6:43 p.m. Oct. 5, documents show. His family tracked his cell phone location first to Woodlake Village Apartments on the 500 block of Vermillion Place. His mother headed there to talk to the woman he just started dating. The woman said she was looking for him, too. Then, Bailey's mother tracked his car to 9th Avenue and Roosevelt Street. She found it there — off the road, still running with her maroon Chrysler 200 in drive, she told police. Investigators were tipped off on Oct. 10 that Bailey was shot inside the girlfriend's apartment. His body was moved to the bathroom for several hours. His car was taken to 9th and Roosevelt to 'throw off the investigation.' The girlfriend changed her number after Bailey was killed, the affidavit states. 'Why would you do that with our child present,' the ex-girlfriend screamed. 'That's who I am,' Stokes responded. Two detectives went to the Stokes' house in the 700 block of Louisiana Street, where they found the Ford Flex, silver Infiniti and black Audi, his family's vehicles. License plate readers showed Bailey showed up to the apartment on Oct. 5. Later, the Chrysler 200 was driven off, followed by the black Audi toward 9th and Roosevelt, to ditch Bailey's car, before the black car headed back to the apartment. Then, the black Audi and Ford Flex head to the 2300 block of Clay Street, where Bailey's body was later found.

Virginia radio host Brandon Stokes arrested for allegedly trying to drunkenly enter crime scene
Virginia radio host Brandon Stokes arrested for allegedly trying to drunkenly enter crime scene

New York Post

time06-06-2025

  • New York Post

Virginia radio host Brandon Stokes arrested for allegedly trying to drunkenly enter crime scene

A beloved Virginia radio personality was accused of attempting to drive drunkenly through a crime scene where law enforcement was investigating an officer-involved shooting. Brandon Stokes, known by his stage name as 'Shaggy' on Virginia Beach's Z104, allegedly showed signs of intoxication as he tried to enter a closed-off area surrounded by law enforcement in Virginia Beach on Wednesday around 9:30 a.m., 13 News Now reported. At the time, the Virginia Beach Police Department blocked off the area when they were investigating an unrelated officer-involved shooting that happened the same morning. 5 Brandon Stokes was arrested on Wednesday and charged with DUI and obstruction of justice. Virginia Beach Sheriff's Office Officers reportedly fired at a suspect — identified as 18-year-old Shaun Marlar — who was holding a replica gun outside of a self-storage business, according to 10 WAVY. Marlar was allegedly attempting to break into a car at a daycare facility near the storage business when police confronted him. Authorities shot Marlar when the teen pointed the replica firearm. The 43-year-old radio personality, who owns a roller skating rink just feet away from where the shooting happened, said he had property nearby and insisted that he was 'allowed to drive through,' according to court records reviewed by the outlet. Officers repeatedly told Stokes that he could not enter, but the disc jockey would not take no for an answer. Stokes reportedly became 'belligerent' and slurred his words while cussing at the law enforcement officers on scene. 5 Stokes reportedly was trying to drive up to his business, a roller skating rink, near the crime scene. WTKR 3 One officer noticed a strong smell of booze on his breath and Stokes agreed to take a preliminary breath test. The results showed a reported blood alcohol concentration of 0.18, which is more than twice the legal limit in Virginia. Stokes was taken into custody. 5 Stokes is a morning show host for Z104. Courtesy 5 Stokes invited inmates to perform their work live in the studio nearly one year ago. Facebook/Virginia Beach Sheriff's Office He's since bonded out and the on-air personality was back in the studio to host his morning show the following day. 'THURSDAY – RUMOR IS IT'S GONNA RAIN TODAY,' the host captioned on an Instagram story posted Thursday. The video on his Instagram showed a quick look inside the studio. He later assured his fans that everything was okay in a short post on his DJ Facebook page. 'Promise you all is well.. I'm good. – happy Thursday,' the post read. 5 The DJ partnered with local law enforcement to promote a program that helped inmates create music last June. Facebook/Virginia Beach Sheriff's Office The Post reached out to Stokes and his radio station for comment. The DJ's arrest came nearly one year after he teamed up with the Virginia Beach Sheriff's Office to feature a program that allowed inmates to create original music. Marlar is in critical, but stable condition after the shooting. He was charged with two counts of assault on a law enforcement officer and three counts of brandishing. 'I don't know. My heart is broken. I don't know what to say about that. You know, I'm terrified for the people that he had an effect on, and I'm terribly sorry for what they've gone through, but super glad that nobody got hurt,' Marlar's dad told the outlet. 'He's got to know the consequences for what he has done and get some help. He is not a bad or mean person. He just struggles.'

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store