ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1997, Roanoke Times
DATE: Saturday, April 5, 1997 TAG: 9704070065
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: LAURENCE HAMMACK THE ROANOKE TIMES
Postmaster Billy Martin says Anthony T. Jefferson will remain on suspension without pay until a final decision is made after he is sentenced.
As a letter carrier in Southeast Roanoke, Anthony T. Jefferson knew a lot about the young women on his route: who lived alone, what hours they worked, when they were out of town.
That gave the U.S. Postal employee a "tremendous psychological advantage" that he used to sexually harass and torment seven women last summer, Deputy Commonwealth's Attorney Betty Jo Anthony said.
At a hearing Friday in Roanoke Circuit Court, Jefferson pleaded guilty to stalking two women and breaking into the home of a third with intent to sexually assault her. He admitted making obscene telephone calls to four other women on his route, although those charges were dropped as part of a plea agreement.
Jefferson, 36, will face up to five years in prison when he is sentenced next month.
The problems with Jefferson began last July, when he struck up a conversation with a 29-year-old woman who was living in a trailer on Piedmont Street. When the talk turned to the weather, the woman commented on how the heat made it hard to sleep in the trailer.
The next night, the woman was awakened by noises in the trailer and found Jefferson standing at the foot of the bed, fumbling with his pants. He fled when the woman screamed.
"She was extremely shaken up and afraid," Anthony said.
Over the following two months, other women in the area received about 20 telephone calls that were "extremely sexually explicit," Anthony said. The anonymous caller often made comments about what the women had been doing earlier in the day, making it obvious to them that they were being watched.
The two stalking charges against Jefferson involved repeated telephone calls.
As the harassment continued, Jefferson became bolder, trying to kiss one woman after asking her for a date. He was charged with assault, but the charge was dropped along with the obscene telephone calls.
A plea agreement accepted by Circuit Judge Jonathan Apgar noted that while those charges were dropped, Jefferson still accepts responsibility for all the allegations. And while the agreement caps his possible punishment at five years, it also calls for at least 10 years of suspended time, 10 years of probation and "psycho-sexual treatment."
Assistant Public Defender Roger Dalton joined in a request that Jefferson be evaluated, saying that Jefferson's actions appeared to be "more inwardly directed than outwardly."
Jefferson, who is from Campbell County, was allowed to remain free until his May 23 sentencing date. Roanoke Postmaster Billy Martin said Jefferson will remain on suspension without pay until a final decision is made on his status after he is sentenced.
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