Police say a Memphis man with a prior rape conviction is back behind bars after surveillance cameras allegedly caught him inside a Bellevue Inn motel room with a 12-year-old and a 13-year-old on Friday. According to court records, one of the girls ran to a nearby house for help while the other hid in a stranger's yard until officers showed up. Investigators have identified the suspect as 33-year-old Joshua Townsel, who was arrested and is being held with no bail amount set while the investigation continues.
What police allege
According to an affidavit reviewed by investigators, video from the Bellevue Inn appears to show Townsel inside a room with the two girls. One of them told police she fainted, tried to call for help, then bit Townsel and bolted from the room, running into a neighbor's yard. The affidavit, reviewed by FOX13 Memphis, says the homeowner called police after the girl asked for help. The second girl reportedly stayed hidden in a nearby yard until officers arrived. Investigators note the girls are 12 and 13 years old, and the case remains an active Memphis Police Department investigation.
Court records and past conviction
Court records show Townsel previously pleaded guilty to rape, attempted rape and drug charges and received an eight-year sentence, although records say he was released early last June. Older court documents dated Jan. 19, 2018, describe an allegation that a woman told police Townsel "strangled her until she passed out," then stole her phone and forced her out of a car, according to FOX13 Memphis. Detectives are weighing those earlier convictions along with the new affidavit as they build the current case.
Charges, custody and what is next
Townsel was taken into custody on Friday, and public arrest records list no bail amount set as of this week. Charging decisions and any possible indictment will come from the Shelby County District Attorney's Office, with court dates expected to follow once prosecutors formally file charges and arraign him. Memphis Police are asking anyone with information related to the investigation to contact the department.
Motel history and community concerns
The Bellevue Inn has surfaced in law-enforcement discussions before. In past years, several South Memphis motels have been declared public nuisances and targeted in crackdowns on prostitution and drug activity, a pattern that has made properties like these a recurring neighborhood safety flashpoint for residents and officials, as reported by local outlets including Action News 5.
Townsel is presumed innocent of the latest allegations unless and until he is proven guilty in court. We have requested comment from the Memphis Police Department and the Shelby County District Attorney's Office and will update this story if they respond or if additional details become available.
