IT DIDN’T TAKE LONG FOR A SULLIVAN COUNTY JURY TO FIND A MAN GUILTY OF ATTEMPTED RAPE OF A NOW DECEASED WOMAN. 31 YEAR OLD JIMMY JOE STAPLETON WAS CONVICTED OF ATTEMPTED AGGRAVATED RAPE, AGGRAVATED ASSAULT AND TWO COUNTS OF SIMPLE ASSAULT. THE VERDICT CAME MORE THAN FIVE YEARS AFTER THE INCIDENT INVOLVING CHRISTA HART AT AN APARTMENT COMPLEX IN BLOUNTVILLE. HART WAS FOUND THE NEXT MONTH IN SOUTH HOLSTON LAKE IN WASHINGTON COUNTY VIRGINIA. 45 YEAR OLD CHARLES STILTNER IS CHARGED WITH SECOND DEGREE MURDER IN HART’S DEATH. MEANWHILE, STAPLETON FACES UP TO 12 YEARS IN PRISON WHEN HE’S SENTENCED AT A LATER DATE.