Former Probation Officer Accused Of Sexual Battery, Blackmail

PINELLAS COUNTY, FL — A former Clearwater probation officer has been arrested after being accused of sexually battering and blackmailing one of his probation clients.

According to the Pinellas County Sheriff's Office, detectives began their investigation on Oct. 14 when the victim, a young woman, was an inmate at the Pinellas County Jail. She told detention deputies that her former probation officer had blackmailed her for sexual favors.

According to detectives, in December 2017, the young woman was sentenced to probation for drug charges. The terms of her probation required her to report to a probation officer within 24 hours of her release from jail. When she reported to the Pinellas County Department of Corrections probation office in Clearwater, 29-year-old Rutherford Jean was assigned to her case.

While serving as her probation officer, Jean told the young woman that he reported all of her drug tests were negative although, in March 2018, he received laboratory results showing her positive for drugs.

Instead of reporting her for a parole violation, Jean picked up the young woman at her home and drove her to a location where he sexually battered her, according to detectives.

Detectives learned of another instance in which Jean met the victim at her home and told her to get in the front seat of his vehicle and perform oral sex on him as payment for not reporting her probation violation.

Around July 2018, Jean transferred from the Clearwater probation office to the Palm Beach County Department of Corrections parole and probation office, but resigned a month later.

With assistance from the Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office, detectives obtained a DNA sample from Jean and matched it to a semen sample from the victim's clothing.

With the assistance of the Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office, detectives arrested Jean, who was living on West Palm Beach, on Thursday. During an interview with detectives, Jean denied the allegations.

He is being held at the Palm Beach County Jail awaiting transport to Pinellas County.

Anyone who believes she was victimized by Jean should contact Pinellas County Detective R. Redman at 727-582-6200.