A man who had been living in a community of tents near Hanna has pled guilty to assaulting a female victim who lived in a nearby tent in October 2023.

Damon Michael Upton, 40, also pled guilty at a hearing on May 22 to charges of possession of a firearm after a former felony conviction, possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony and possession of a sawed-off shotgun/ rifle.

A kidnapping charge was dismissed.

Associate District Judge Brendon Bridges sentenced Upton to 20 years in prison on the remaining charges, with all but the first 12 years suspended. The defendant is to receive mental health treatment while incarcerated.

According to investigating officer Deputy Sheriff Bradley Smith, Upton allegedly entered the victim’s tent, about 1 ½ miles west of the Indian Nation Turnpike, at about 8 p.m. on Oct. 12 with a sawed-off shotgun and hit her several times and spent nine hours assaulting her.

Asked why the victim waited until Oct. 15 to report the attack and she replied that the suspect threatened to kill her if she told anyone.

Smith said during the investigation it was learned that the defendant is a convicted felon and had an active warrant out for his arrest in Okmulgee County for failing to appear in court on a domestic assault and battery charge.