Estimated read time: 4-5 minutes
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
SALT LAKE CITY — Police worked through the night before successfully locating and arresting a man accused of rape who was erroneously released from Salt Lake County Jail on Wednesday.
Salt Lake County Sheriff Jim Winder said officers with the Unified Police Major Investigations Unit found Anthony S. Moultry, 27, on Thursday morning.
"When we promise we will capture these individuals, we mean it," Winder said after apologizing for the clerical error that led to Moultry's release.
The man was located around 10 a.m. near 300 East and 400 South, Unified Police Sgt. Cammie Skogg said. He was booked into the Salt Lake County Jail following his arrest.
Moultry was charged Wednesday in 3rd District Court with rape, a first-degree felony, and burglary, a second-degree felony. He was also charged with theft and lewdness, both class B misdemeanors.
Moultry is accused of forcing his way into the Murray home of Helen Jensen on Aug. 3, restraining her and raping her.
Jensen, known to friends as "Mignon," said that although her story is painful, she wants it to be heard so that other victims won't be ashamed.
"He just pushed me right to the very corner of my bed," Jensen said of the experience. "I was screaming so loud that I just thought 'There's no way that somebody cannot be hearing me.' And I thought, 'I have got to find a way to get this guy out of here.' "
Jensen said that at first when Moultry came to her home, he was just talking to her, but that he slowly became more aggressive and physical.
Related Stories:
Salt Lake County Jail erroneously releases rape suspect
Police were searching Wednesday night for a man accused of rape who was erroneously released from Salt Lake County Jail."He said, 'This is your fantasy. All you old ladies. This is your fantasy, to have somebody come and do this to you,' " Jensen said.
Moultry also took $100 from Jensen during the assault, according to charging documents. Jensen reported that she later realized he had also taken her wallet.
Police found the Jensen's wallet in a Dumpster near Moultry's residence, not far from the her home, the charges state. Moultry was booked into jail the day of the alleged assault but was accidentally released about 10:15 a.m. Wednesday.
Winder said the man's wife, Rainey Moultry, 34, assisted her husband in avoiding capture and that the couple was working on a plan to leave the area but were slowed by "limited means." Rainey Moultry has also been arrested for allegedly assisting in her husband's departure.
"We want people to know if you facilitate people's flight from justice, we will go after you," Winder said.
As the deadline for Moultry's release approached, Murray police had obtained and delivered an extension order about 9 a.m. Wednesday that would have kept him in jail until charges were filed later that day. The sheriff confirmed the extension was successfully received by the jail but was somehow overlooked, and Moultry was released.
"He knew doggone well he still should have been in jail," Winder said.
This individual could have perpetrated additional crimes in the community, so we're certainly not taking this lightly.
–Jim Winder
Moultry attempted to call some of his contacts to try to get a ride. A former inmate refused to help and contacted authorities, police said.
Winder said Murray police officers did everything right throughout the process and that the error was on the part of sheriff's office employees who failed to see the charging documents in Moultry's file. A Murray police officer who was checking the jail docket noticed the erroneous release and notified sheriff's officials.
An investigation has been initiated to identify what went wrong, and until then, every booking will be given extra scrutiny before a suspect is released. Winder said an additional support sergeant has been charged with personally reviewing every inmate's file.
"This individual could have perpetrated additional crimes in the community, so we're certainly not taking this lightly," Winder said.
The sheriff said those involved in the release were "devastated," but if the investigation shows there were failures or omissions, disciplinary actions may be necessary. He said he didn't want to play the "blame game" so much as focus on what could make the jail safer and prevent similar incidents in the future.
"The individuals involved in the review of this packet were emotionally distraught when they learned about this release, as you can understand," Winder said. "These are human beings. All human beings are capable of making mistakes."
