A man has been sentenced after trapping a woman in a hospital toilet before raping her. Shantonya Terrell Jones, who was already under lifetime supervision as a sex offender for raping a child, has been jailed for a further two years.
The 50-year-old raped a fellow patient at the Erlanger Behavioural Health Hospital in Tennessee, US, on Friday, April 4, last year. A police report from the time said the victim was in the toilet before Jones trapped her inside. He tapped on the door before entering and pulling down his trousers. He then raped the woman before being arrested and taken to custody.
The attacker claimed the victim indicated she was interested in having sex with him. It came after he was admitted to the hospital for mental illness on the same day.
A police report stated: “Mr. Jones advised that he noticed the staff desk area was unoccupied and quickly walked down the hallway towards the victim room.” It added: “A background check on Shantonya Terrell Jones revealed that he is a Sex Offender for Rape of a Child and has Lifetime Supervision.”
During police questioning, Jones waived his right to remain silent without an attorney. He claimed the woman gave her consent, but he has now been given a two-year prison sentence after being convicted of rape.
Arcadia Healthcare, operators of the hospital, said in a statement: “The care and well-being of our patients are our highest priorities. We have zero tolerance for the alleged actions and are cooperating with local authorities on this matter. Due to the ongoing nature of this investigation, we cannot comment further.”
The Erlanger Behavioural Health Hospital is a 144-bed treatment centre specialising in mental health and addiction services. It provides a range of care, including crisis stabilisation and detox services.
