Former Haywood County sheriff's deputy Marvin Lee Norfolk has gone from patrol car to defendant, after state investigators say a routine traffic stop spiraled into a sexual assault. Norfolk, 63, was indicted Monday and now faces a slate of sex-related criminal charges, including rape, attempted rape, official misconduct and tampering with evidence. He surrendered this week with help from the U.S. Marshals Service and was booked into the Haywood County Jail on a $250,000 bond.
According to FOX13 Memphis, the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation said a Haywood County grand jury returned the indictment Monday and the charges were filed the same day. Prosecutors allege the assault happened during a traffic stop in Haywood County, and the TBI is leading the criminal investigation.
Background and prior review
This is not the first time Norfolk has been on the TBI’s radar. The agency had previously opened a probe into his conduct, and local reporting shows he resigned from the sheriff's office while under an administrative investigation, Action News 5 reported in August 2025. At the time, Haywood County Sheriff Billy Garrett told the station that the deputy's actions "represented a serious moral failure" and said the office had sought decertification to keep him from returning to law enforcement in Tennessee.
Arrest and booking
FOX13 Memphis also reports that Norfolk turned himself in this week with assistance from the U.S. Marshals Service. He was booked into the Haywood County Jail, where records list his bond at $250,000. Prosecutors and the TBI have not yet released a timeline for his arraignment or other upcoming court appearances.
What comes next
With the indictment in hand, the case now moves into Haywood County's criminal courts, where prosecutors will pursue the charges and Norfolk will have the chance to answer them before a judge. As with any indictment, the counts are allegations, and he is presumed innocent unless and until he is proven guilty in court. Public court records will provide arraignment dates and any future hearings as they are scheduled.
Officials have not released further details beyond the TBI’s announcement, and the investigation remains active as the case winds its way through the legal system. This story will be updated as new court filings and official statements become available.
