bad_meetz_evil
04-08-2007, 09:09 PM
CHATTANOOGA, Tennessee (AP) — It was not until a 42-year-old prisoner took a shower that surprised jail authorities discovered that they were holding a woman instead of a man on statutory rape charges.
After the shower, Hamilton County Jail authorities determined that the suspect booked as Alexander David Cross was a woman also known as Elaine Ann Cross. The discovery also surprised several prisoners at the jail.
"After about 10 days in jail, they figure out Alex Cross is a female," Assistant District Attorney Boyd Patterson said in court on Wednesday.
Patterson did not immediately return a call Thursday seeking more information about the case.
Cross had been in jail awaiting a court appearance Wednesday. At the hearing, she pleaded guilty to an aggravated statutory rape charge as part of a deal with prosecutors. The charge stems from a sexual relationship with a 15-year-old girl who believed Cross was a man.
In exchange for the plea, Cross will not serve jail time if she stays out of trouble for six years.
The charges indicate Cross and the teenager had some sort of sexual contact at least three times during June and July 2006.
Patterson said the teen was "enamored" with Cross and had considered marriage when she thought Cross was a man.
As part of the plea agreement, Cross must register as a convicted sex offender, have no contact with the teen and change her gender designation on her driver's license to female.
Cross could not immediately be located for comment Thursday.
Credit: USAToday.
After the shower, Hamilton County Jail authorities determined that the suspect booked as Alexander David Cross was a woman also known as Elaine Ann Cross. The discovery also surprised several prisoners at the jail.
"After about 10 days in jail, they figure out Alex Cross is a female," Assistant District Attorney Boyd Patterson said in court on Wednesday.
Patterson did not immediately return a call Thursday seeking more information about the case.
Cross had been in jail awaiting a court appearance Wednesday. At the hearing, she pleaded guilty to an aggravated statutory rape charge as part of a deal with prosecutors. The charge stems from a sexual relationship with a 15-year-old girl who believed Cross was a man.
In exchange for the plea, Cross will not serve jail time if she stays out of trouble for six years.
The charges indicate Cross and the teenager had some sort of sexual contact at least three times during June and July 2006.
Patterson said the teen was "enamored" with Cross and had considered marriage when she thought Cross was a man.
As part of the plea agreement, Cross must register as a convicted sex offender, have no contact with the teen and change her gender designation on her driver's license to female.
Cross could not immediately be located for comment Thursday.
Credit: USAToday.