Newport Man Convicted Of 2019 Rape

A Newport man is facing decades in jail after being convicted on rape charges in Knoxville. 49 year old David Lyndell Cochran was a cook at a restaurant in Powell back in 2019. According to prosecutors, in August of 2019 the restaurant was closing and the staff was given access to the bar to mark the closing. The victim, who was a server became intoxicated. Prosecutors say that is when Cochran offered to take the victim home but instead took her to the Super 8 Motel and raped her. The next day, the victim felt pain and discomfort, but did not know what happened…That prompted an investigation by the Knox County Sheriff’s office. A sexual assault examination was done and found Cochran’s DNA. Yesterday in Knoxville, Cochran was convicted on charges of aggravated rape, two counts of rape and aggravated kidnapping. Prosecutors say they will seek the maximum penalty at sentencing…37 years without the possibility of parole. A date for Cochran’s sentencing was not revealed.