MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Authorities in Tennessee are attempting to locate a convicted rapist after they say he was released due to an IT error.
According to the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office, Cameron Brooks was released Wednesday after a court appearance the day before, during which a 2022 aggravated rape charge was dismissed.
The office said another charge of aggravated rape was still pending, to which Brooks pleaded guilty.
The sheriff’s office said the additional charge did not have a legal hold provided by the Shelby County Information Technologies on his release forms.
Deputies said Shelby County IT is a separate county agency and is not part of the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office, and because of the error, Brooks was released from custody.
The office said shortly after Brooks was released Wednesday morning, the department was told that Shelby County IT should have placed a hold on Brooks because of the other rape charge he had pled guilty to.
According to deputies, jail supervisors notified the fugitive unit, which is currently attempting to locate and take Brooks back into custody.
“It is important to note that at the time of release, jail staff acted appropriately and lawfully based on the information available to them,” said the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office. “No legal holds or bond revocations had been processed or communicated at that moment, and therefore, there was no legal basis to detain Brooks further.”
This comes just months after a procedural lapse within the sheriff’s office led to the wrongful release of a convicted killer.
Anthony Green was convicted in the fatal 2020 shooting of 19-year-old Octavious Atkins, but was released after posting a $2,500 bond for a separate misdemeanor theft case.
Green’s whereabouts remain unknown.