Lawrence County Man Charged with Multiple Counts of Rape

NASHVILLE – An investigation by Special Agents with the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation has resulted in a Leoma man being arrested and charged with multiple counts of rape, in addition to other charges.

At the request of 22^nd District Attorney General Brent Cooper, on February 15^th, TBI Agents began investigating Stephen Purcell on allegations of rape. During the course of the investigation, Agents developed information that on February 15^th, the woman met Purcell at his home on Old Jackson Highway. The investigation revealed that when the woman entered the home, Purcell held her against her will and sexually assaulted her.

On Thursday, the Lawrence County Grand Jury returned indictments charging Stephen Purcell, Jr. (DOB 12/22/1986) with four counts of Aggravated Rape, four counts of Rape, one count of Aggravated Kidnapping, one count of Aggravated Assault and one count of Domestic Assault. Purcell was arrested Thursday night and was booked into the Lawrence County Jail, where he is being held on a $250,000 bond.