Typo Leads to Wrongful Imprisonment: Civil Trial Set for Man Mistakenly Held in Rape Case

MEMPHIS, Tenn. (BuzzReport)– Anthony Robertson, a man who claims he was wrongly incarcerated for months due to a clerical error, will have his day in court. A civil trial has been set for July 2026, where Robertson will seek $5 million in damages from Shelby County after he was mistakenly held in Shelby County Jail on charges intended for another man with a similar name.

The case stems from a 2023 arrest warrant issued for Anthony Roberson, who was wanted on charges of rape and faced a bond exceeding $1 million. Robertson, however, alleges that an extra letter added to Roberson’s last name led to his own wrongful arrest and detention.

According to court documents, a warrant was issued for Anthony Roberson on October 13, 2023. Over the following weeks, Memphis Police interviewed Roberson, who was already in custody in Kansas City, and identified him in a photo lineup. By November 15, 2023, Roberson allegedly confessed to assaulting three women and robbing several businesses.

Despite the correct suspect, Anthony Roberson, already being in custody, the family of Anthony Robertson received a call from a Shelby County deputy on February 6, 2024, indicating they were looking for Robertson. He was subsequently arrested in Ohio by the United States Marshals Service on February 15, 2024, and extradited to Shelby County on March 2, 2024.

Robertson claims he repeatedly told authorities he was the wrong person, stating, “All I could remember is saying, ‘No sir. No, sir. Y’all got to have the wrong person. That’s not me.'” However, he remained incarcerated for months, even sharing the same jail as the actual suspect.

According to the lawsuit, Robertson’s experience in jail led to a decline in his health and caused him to experience “stigmas and/or fears associated with being charged with aggravated rape and especially aggravated kidnapping, including extortion in exchange for providing for his safety while incarcerated.”

The error was finally acknowledged on July 4, 2024, when Robertson’s attorney and a judge confirmed he was indeed the wrong person. He was released later that day. The lawsuit alleges that the error originated from an inaccurate recording in the Shelby County Criminal Court Clerk’s file, despite accurate information being provided on the indictment sheet.

Robertson is suing Shelby County for $5 million, alleging negligence and seeking compensation for the wrongful imprisonment and its subsequent impact on his life. The trial is scheduled to begin in July 2026. The case highlights the potential for devastating consequences resulting from clerical errors within the criminal justice system.