Men get plea deal in Smokies sexual assault of homeless men

Published 9:12 am Thursday, December 5, 2019

KNOXVILLE (AP) — Two men accused of taking homeless men to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park to rape them have agreed to a plea deal.

The Knoxville News Sentinel reports Dusty Oliver and Richard Graham have each agreed to plead guilty to two charges of aiding and abetting an aggravated sexual assault.

Court records say the charges stem from nearly identical attacks that took place in 2012 and 2015. In both cases, the victims were walking in Knoxville when Oliver and Graham offered them a ride.

Subscribe to our free email newsletter

Get the latest news sent to your inbox

The pair took the victims to the park, making them walk along a trail before sexually assaulting them. DNA evidence was obtained in both cases.

The plea agreements were filed in federal court in Knoxville last week. A sentencing hearing has not been scheduled.