The man who was accused in December of molesting the 16-year-old baby-sitter of his children, pleaded guilty to charges of sexual battery last month in Rhea County Circuit Court, according to sheriff's department officials.

Dwight L. Smith, 42, of Glenn Lane in Spring City, was sentence to time served, 43 days, two years probation and 100 hours of community service, according to Rhea County Sheriff's Department Chief Deputy Charles Byrd. Smith is also ordered to have no contact with the girl and her family for one year and 10 months and 17 days.

Smith's 27-year-old wife and the victim contacted Circuit Court clerk John Fine and swore to a warrant charging Smith with sexual battery just a few hours after the crime was committed, Chief Deputy Byrd said in December.

Smith pick up the girl at her home around 11 p.m. and took her to spend the night at his home so she could baby sit Smith's children the following day while he and his wife were away, Byrd said. The victim went to bed when they got to Smith's house.

A while later, Smith, who had been drinking, according to the girl's statement to Byrd, came into the bedroom and began "coming on to her" and fondling her outside her clothes. The victim said this happened at least once during the night, Byrd said in December.

"When he started putting his hands on her," Byrd said, "she made him leave her alone, so she took care of the problem herself."

Byrd said Smith didn't admit to anything during questioning, but his troubles didn't end there.

Smith was booked at the Rhea County jail Dec. 29 for public intoxication and an additional charge was entered for sexual battery, according to jail records. As Smith was about to be released on a $500 and $8,000 bond for public intoxication, deputies served him with an order of protection granted to his wife.

Smith paid his bond, and around 1:45 a.m. on New Year's Eve his wife reported that Smith entered the home, taking keys to the house, car and post office box, and left in her 1993 Mercury minivan, according to Deputy Robert Dillard.
Dillard questioned Smith and he admitted to his wife's allegations. He was charged with violating the order of protection and jailed again and held on $5,000 bond.

While in jail the second time, Smith allegedly began making phone calls to his wife on New Year's Day, said Deputy Jerry Cheeks, who investigated the third incident. Smith was making the calls from the jail's phone. His wife again swore to a circuit court warrant for phone harassment and another charge was added to the list.

The other charges against Smith are still pending in Rhea County Circuit Court.