Sumter man charged after sexually assaulting sleeping victim

Sumter County sheriff’s deputies have arrested a man they say broke into a home Saturday and sexually assaulted a victim who was sleeping.

Braden Bunch, a sheriff’s office spokesman, said 51-year-old Joe Albert Hilton Jr., of Sumter, has been charged with first-degree criminal sexual conduct and first-degree burglary in connection with the case.

Bunch said Hilton unlawfully entered a home in the 1100 block of Island Drive in Sumter County and sexually assaulted a victim who was sleeping. The victim was awakened during the assault.

Hilton then fled from the home. The victim was able to identify Hilton as the suspect to law enforcement, and several witnesses said they saw Hilton fleeing from the home, according to Bunch.

Hilton is currently being held at the Sumter-Lee Regional Detention Center and was denied bond.

This story was originally published April 7, 2015 at 8:01 AM with the headline "Sumter man charged after sexually assaulting sleeping victim."