A Soddy-Daisy man was sentenced Tuesday to 10 years in prison for raping an autistic and nonverbal adult relative earlier this year.
Dale Ray Hall, 65, pleaded guilty to the felony offense in front of Hamilton County Criminal Court Judge Boyd Patterson.
As part of his plea deal, the state dismissed one count of incest against Hall.
Soddy-Daisy officers responded Jan. 27 to a home on Osage Drive after Hall’s neighbor called police, Assistant District Attorney Andrew Coyle said in court.
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When officers arrived on scene, the neighbor told police he saw Hall chasing a male relative in front of the home, Coyle said. The relative then went to the neighbor’s house to call law enforcement.
The man told police that he walked in on Hall raping another relative, a female, Coyle said. The male relative identified the room in which it happened and what he saw.
Officers found Hall outside of the property, and he admitted to chasing the male relative, Coyle said.
While Hall denied ever penetrating the victim, he confessed to numerous other troubling things such as removing her diaper, according to Coyle.
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Hall didn’t speak in court other than to answer Patterson’s questions and express concern over how he would acquire his belongings from the home upon his release while the victim has a protection order. They lived in the home together at the time of the incident, Andrea Hayduk, Hall’s public defender, said.
Law enforcement typically facilitates some type of pickup or exchange in cases such as this one to maintain no contact, Patterson said.
Hall will be required to remain on the sex offender registry throughout his life. He will be eligible for parole after serving 8.5 years of his sentence, according to Coyle.
Since 1995, Hall has pleaded guilty locally to several other offenses, including public intoxication, passing worthless checks, assault and driving under the influence, according to the clerk’s office.
Contact courts reporter Sofia Saric at ssaric@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6476.
