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A felony rape charge against a Tahlequah man has been dismissed and filed as a misdemeanor assault charge, prosecutors said.
Don Ade, 66, was charged in Cherokee County District Court nearly a year ago with first-degree rape. Assistant District Attorney B.J. Baker said the felony charge was dismissed in December and filed as a simple-assault misdemeanor.
The decision to reduce the charge was based on the strength of the case, Baker said.
Ade entered a plea of no contest to the assault charge and received a one-year deferred sentence.
