Two Orangeburg County men charged with sexual assault after woman forced to have sex with them

Two Orangeburg County men are facing sexual assault charges after an investigation revealed that they allegedly used force to hold a woman down and had intercourse with her.

Orangeburg County Sheriff Leroy Ravenell said 26-year-old Derek Hughes and 26-year-old Joseph Sweatman, both of 1722 Hudson Road, were charged with first-degree criminal sexual conduct in connection with the investigation.

Ravenell said on Nov. 3, the victim was returning a truck she had borrowed from the men to run errands. When she was at the residence, Ravenell said Hughes and Sweatman grabbed the victim by the throat and held her down while forcibly having sex with her.

Deputies were able to take Hughes and Sweatman into custody shortly following the assault, Ravenell said.

Both men were granted $25,000 surety bonds despite a lead investigator requesting that bond be denied for the suspects at a hearing held Tuesday, Ravenell said.

The men face up to 30 years in prison if they are convicted, Ravenell said.

This story was originally published November 5, 2015 at 8:48 AM with the headline "Two Orangeburg County men charged with sexual assault after woman forced to have sex with them."