The Blount County Sheriff's Office has disclosed the arrest of a Maryville couple on numerous child sex crime charges. Sheriff James Lee Berrong identified the individuals as 60-year-old David Dewayne Drinnen and 31-year-old Cayla Shae Hopkins Drinnen, reporting that the investigation that culminated in these charges began last month. As WVLT-TV details, David Drinnen is facing charges of aggravated rape and failure to follow the rules of the court, while Cayla Drinnen's charges include aggravated rape, aggravated child abuse, trafficking for commercial sex, and two counts of solicitation of a minor.
Information provided to investigators alleged that David Drinnen had injected a 14-year-old with methamphetamine and subsequently raped her at their residence on Long Hollow Road. "During the course of this investigation, investigators uncovered additional evidence that Cayla Hopkins Drinnen offered to pay another 14-year-old female family member to perform indecent acts on David Drinnen at their home on Long Hollow Road," WVLT-TV reports. Both suspects were reported to be on probation for prior offenses at the time of these incidents.
According to the Sheriff's Office, David Drinnen is being held on a $250,000 bond for the aggravated rape charge with an additional hold without bond for failing to follow court rules, while Cayla Drinnen's bond totals $800,000. These developments come forward as the small community of Maryville is forced to reckon with a lurid narrative of abuse and manipulation.
The couple is expected to appear in the Blount County General Sessions Court on August 21. This information was corroborated by multiple sources, including 3B Media News, who confirmed that both individuals are scheduled to appear in court at 1:30 p.m.
