Ex-Cop Accused Of Raping 14-Year-Old Avoids Trial, Jail Time With Plea Deal

A 47-year-old former sheriff's deputy in Tennessee accused of raping a 14-year-old girl avoided a trial and possible jail time after striking a plea deal with prosecutors last week.

Brian Beck, a former deputy with the Shelby County Sheriff's Office, was indicted in June 2018 by a grand jury on two counts of rape by force or coercion and two counts of sexual battery by an authority figure.

He reached a deal with prosecutors on Feb. 28 in which he pleaded guilty to a lesser charge of aggravated assault, according to court records filed in Shelby County Court.

Beck's attorney Leslie Ballin said in a statement to People that his client pleaded guilty under what is called an Alford plea, meaning the former deputy maintained his innocence while acknowledging there was enough evidence to convict him.

After reaching the plea deal, Beck's four-year prison sentence was suspended, and he will instead serve three years of probation. The deal will not require Beck to register as a sex offender.

Beck was accused of raping a 14-year-old girl, who was not named, multiple times between May 1, 2016, and Jan. 1, 2018, Fox 13 Memphis reported, citing investigators. The minor was a family member of the former deputy, Beck's lawyer said.

"Given the totality of the evidence, we ethically could not proceed to trial on the indicted offenses," Shelby County District Attorney General Amy Weirich said in a statement emailed to People.

Weirich added that the plea offer "was made in consultation with the victim."

If Beck violates the terms of his probation, he still could end up serving time in prison, according to the probation order obtained by Law and Crime. The order also requires Beck to serve 150 hours of community service, submit to random drug screening and have no contact with the victim.

Beck also can no longer carry a gun or be a member of law enforcement, WHBQ-TV reported, citing prosecutors.

The judge’s order, obtained by Law and Crime, provided insight into the decision in Beck's case.

The document said that "the defendant is not likely again to engage in a criminal course of conduct" — at least "to the satisfaction of the Court" — and that "the ends of justice and the welfare of society do not require that the Defendant shall presently suffer the penalty imposed by law by incarceration."

Beck, who had been with the Shelby County Sheriff's Office since 2004, was relieved of duty without pay in June 2018.

His bail was initially set at $125,000, but the amount was lowered a few days later to $90,000, which Beck posted bail for, according to court records.

The resolution of the charges against him was delayed by the COVID-19 pandemic, Beck's lawyer said.

The attorney also said the former deputy has maintained his innocence from the onset. He said Beck agreed to plead guilty to a lesser felony than rape because he didn’t want to leave his fate up to a jury.

Given that the original charges carried a mandatory minimum prison term, Ballin said, "the parties reached an agreement that I would say neither side was real happy with."