A FORMER CHURCH HILL MAN CONVICTED OF PHYSICALLY AND SEXUALLY ASSAULTING A JOHNSON CITY WOMAN NEARLY SEVEN YEARS AGO HAS BEEN SENTENCED IN SULLIVAN COUNTY CRIMINAL COURT. A JURY FOUND JIMMY JOE STAPLETON GUILTY IN JANUARY ON CHARGES OF ASSAULT AND ATTEMPTED AGGRAVATED RAPE. A JUDGE ORDERED HIM TO SERVE 12 YEAR IN PRISON. HE ASSAULTED AND RAPED 23 YEAR OLD CHRISTA BRAE HART IN A BATHROOM AT A PARTY IN 2002. THE WOMAN WAS LATER FOUND DEAD IN SOUTH HOLSTON LAKE IN WASHINGTON COUNTY VIRGINIA. THE MAN ACCUSED IN THAT CRIME, CHARLES STILTNER IS CHARGED WITH SECOND DEGREE MURDER. NO ONE HAS SAID IF THERE’S A CONNECTION BETWEEN THE RAPE AND MURDER.