Landfill worker pleads guilty to sexually harassing woman

Cecil Dale Smith, 71, of Spotsylvania, pleaded guilty to aggravated sexual assault of an incapacitated person. His sentencing is scheduled for August 22.

According to court documents, the attack occurred on October 21 at Todd’s Tavern convenience center at 10653 Catharpin Road in Spotsylvania. The victim had arrived there just before closing time when her blood sugar dropped dangerously low and she became disoriented.

Deputy C. Staats responded to the area shortly after 11 p.m. after the victim was reported missing. He found the victim parked in the front yard of a home adjacent to the landfill.

Emergency responders were called to treat her for her critically low blood sugar levels. She initially went home, where she noticed blood and an unusual odor coming from her underwear, court records say.

She ended up in a hospital, where a nurse examined her and found acute injuries to her private parts. The woman remembered the landfill worker closing the gate while she was still inside the facility and him putting his hand down her shirt and touching her legs. But she could only sporadically remember other things, court records say.

Detective S. Norris later interviewed Smith, who admitted to being the guard on duty that evening. He told Norris he knew the victim was suffering from hypoglycemia because he heard her glucose meter go off, but denied having had sexual contact with her.

Norris questioned Smith again the next day, and this time he admitted to touching the woman’s breasts and attempting to have sex with her. According to court documents, Smith told Norris he “believed” he touched the woman’s private parts with his fingers and “possibly” his penis, but could not say for sure.

Smith acknowledged that his conduct was wrong and said he should have called emergency services because it was clearly a diabetic emergency, court records say.

Security camera footage showed the woman arriving at the landfill at 5:41 p.m. and Smith closing the gates at 6:10 p.m. while the woman was still inside. The landfill normally closes at 6 p.m.

Smith was seen leaving the facility at 6:39 p.m., around the same time the woman was seen driving out of the facility. The charge he was convicted of carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison.