The Advocate and Democrat

The case of a sexual assault at the United Wheel plant in Sweetwater could go to trial in August.

In Criminal Court this week, Judge Carroll Ross set an Aug. 18 status hearing for five defendants with a trial to begin the next day if there is no resolution to the case or any delays.

Six United Wheel employees or former employees, including a former plant manager, were indicted last June in connection with an alleged sexual assault at the Sweetwater plant on March 14, 2007 and a subsequent cover up.

What started out as a cruel and crude prank was compounded by the suspects’ lies to police about the alleged incident, Sweetwater Police Detective John Scruggs said.

“I had no idea how deep it went,” he said.

According to Scruggs, the alleged victim, a 39-year-old Sweetwater man, was tied up with duct tape and industrial shrink wrap while one of the suspects pulled his own pants down and sat on the bound man’s face.

The detective said the warehouse manager at the time, Daniel Roberts, 31, Wright Street, Sweetwater, offered $20 to anyone who would sit on the victim’s face.

Roberts is charged with criminal responsibility, false imprisonment, assault and filing a false report.

Scruggs, who worked closely with the district attorney’s office on the case, said some of the men threw metal wheel weights at the victim during his ordeal.

The detective said he had to interview at least a dozen people at the plant and spent countless hours trying to unravel the lies.

“They all thought they would pull together, lie about it and not get in trouble,” Scruggs said after the indictments last year.

The investigator said 44-year-old Brian Hinds, Steekee Creek Road, Loudon, who is accused of simulating a sexual act on the victim before he was wrapped up, is charged with assault and filing a false report.

John “Tippy” Armstrong, 50, Edwards Road, Madisonville, is charged in a grand jury indictment with filing a false report.

Scruggs said at first he thought Armstrong would help him with the case but then he lied during the investigation.

John C. Burris, 23, New Highway 68, Madisonville, stands charged with false imprisonment for his alleged roll in tying up the victim against his will, assault and filing a false report.

Bobby Thompson, 28, County Road 298, Sweetwater, is accused of sitting on the bound man’s face.

The indictments charged Thompson with sexual battery, assault, false imprisonment and filing a false report.

One defendant, Joe Fogle, 30, Community Drive, Madisonville, recently pleaded guilty to assault in the case.

tommy.millsaps@advocateand democrat.com | 337-7101

Subscribe to The Advocate and Democrat by clicking SUBSCRIBE. Sign up for Breaking News emails from The Advocate and Democrat by clicking EMAIL ALERTS and inputting your email address next to "Add Me" near the top right corner.