A former deputy from Cheatham County is battling serious charges after an investigation by the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation. Jeffrey Key, 45, stands accused of rape, assault, and vandalism following allegations initially raised against him in October last year.
The TBI launched its probe into Key on October 2, 2024, after a woman accused him of raping her, News 2 reported. The investigation also unearthed that Key had been involved in a vehicle crash where he notably crashed into a mailbox. Importantly, it was also reported that Key was not on duty during the night of these incidents.
As a result of these findings, Key faced an indictment delivered by the Cheatham County Grand Jury yesterday. According to the WSMV account, Key was charged with one count of rape, one count of assault, and two counts of vandalism. Following this indictment, he was arrested, and his bond was $80,000.
Before the arrest, Key had been employed by the Cheatham County Sheriff’s Office for nine years. However, after the TBI informed the office of the ongoing investigation, Sheriff Tim Binkley initially placed Key on administrative duty with pay to quickly remove him from active service. After the charges went public, Key was dismissed from the Sheriff’s Office, as confirmed by Binkley in a statement obtained by FOX 17. The former deputy is currently detained at the Cheatham County Jail.
