MEMPHIS, TN (abc24.com) - He beat his girlfriend with a 2x4, raped her, then police say he tried to force her into prostitution.
39-year-old Anthony Lewis is in jail charged with aggravated rape and sex trafficking. Police say Lewis attacked his girlfriend with the piece of wood when she refused to prostitute herself.
His family is stunned by the charges. Pete Uef lives just a few houses down from his step son, Anthony Lewis. "I think he's a nice guy," Uef says.
According to Uef, Lewis has dabbled in drugs but he's never seen him be violent. "I never heard him beating up nobody or anything like that." His stepfather's statement doesn't match the affidavit.
According to police, Lewis' 23-year-old girlfriend refused to prostitute herself. That's when he grabbed a 2x4 piece of wood and beat her with it. Police say the victim had a broken arm, bruised legs and black eye. Then, the affidavit states, Lewis raped her.
Neighbors and family knew about the fight, but heard a different story. "I didn't hear anything about that," Uef recalls, "I hear she broke her arm falling down. That's what I hear."
The victim says Lewis frequently forced her into prostitution at gun point. Lewis has been arrested two other times in Shelby County for promoting prostitution. He also has previous arrests for aggravated assault, drugs, burglary and car theft.
During this arrest police searched his home in the 1600-block of Grimes, they found a 2x4 and a gun hidden under Lewis' mattress.
Lewis is being held on $100,000 bond.
