Elderly man accused of raping 15-year-old girl
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CROCKETT CO., Tenn. — Investigators say an elderly man in Crockett County is now behind bars after he is accused of raping a girl 50 years younger than him. Deputies arrested Dennis Buchanan, 65, Tuesday night. Buchanan is charged with solicitation of a minor, sexual battery by an authority figure and statutory rape by an authority figure. “It’s something we don’t see every day, but when we do it’s hard to deal with,” Crockett County investigator Andrew Whitehead said. The victim told deputies the abuse happened less than a year ago at Buchanan’s home when she was 15 years old. Deputies say they believe Buchanan solicited her for sex at least three times. While investigators say Buchanan was close to the victim’s family, they won’t release the connection. “Our children are innocent and we want to protect that innocence,” Whitehead said. Buchanan is also accused of showing the victim explicit photos. Deputies say they found pornographic pictures inside of his home and on his cell phone. Some neighbors said the charges are hard to believe. “He was always a nice person,” Cora Woods said, who lives next door. “I just don’t believe it.” Buchanan’s bond is set at $50,000. He will be arraigned on the charges, Thursday morning. Deputies say Buchanan did not have a previous criminal history.
