Bart William Zink | Asheville man found guilty of filming sex crimes against unconscious victim

ASHEVILLE, NC — An Asheville man was sentenced to more than 200 days in prison after a jury found he sexually assaulted an unconscious victim in 2022 and recorded the crime on his cellphone.

The Buncombe County District Attorney’s Office announced that 55-year-old Bart William Zink was found guilty of spying and sexual assault on July 11, 2024.

District Attorney Todd Williams called the case “outrageous” in a written statement and called on the North Carolina General Assembly to pass stricter laws against aggravated sexual assault.

The victim testified that she was invited to a party at Zink’s house on May 22, 2022, and found that no one was there except Zink.

According to a press release from the prosecutor’s office, Zink served the victim alcohol and advised her to stay at his house when she told him it was time for her to leave.

The victim testified that she remembered falling asleep on the recliner and waking up the next morning in Zink’s bed with Zink next to her.

According to the press release, the victim testified that later that morning she convinced Zink to let her use his phone. Sensing that something strange had happened, she searched his phone and found a video that had been recorded earlier in the day.

The video presented to the jury shows the victim naked next to Zink as he touches her and takes her hand to touch himself. The victim appeared to be unconscious throughout the four-minute video, prosecutors said.

“This is an egregious case of drugged sexual assault, and I am sure many would be shocked to learn that the crime presented to the jury this week is only a misdemeanor in the state of North Carolina – not a felony. It should be a felony – a serious crime with a significant prison sentence. Given the facts of this case, I am calling on the North Carolina General Assembly to pass a new crime called Aggravated Sexual Abuse to fully hold perpetrators like Zink who commit crimes of drugged sexual assault accountable,” District Attorney Todd Williams said in a written statement. In a victim impact statement read at the sentencing, the victim said she suffered tremendously after the May 2022 incident, adding that she had trouble sleeping and eating for an extended period of time and felt feelings of shame.

Prosecutors said Zink’s criminal history would allow for a maximum sentence of no more than 75 days for the sexual assault charge. Because the crime was recorded, he was sentenced to 30 months’ probation for the peeping tom charge – a Class I felony. As a condition of probation, Judge Alan Thornburg ordered Zink to serve 127 days in jail, to be served consecutively to the 75-day sentence – for a total of 202 days in jail.

Prosecutors said if Zink violates the terms of his probation after his release from prison, he could be sentenced to probation for 6 to 17 months at a later date. Judge Thornburg also ordered Zink to register as a sex offender for 30 years.

On Friday, July 12, News 13 spoke with Rita Sneider-Cotter, executive director of the victims’ rights group Our Voice, to discuss the impact such an act can have on the victim.

We know that drug-related sexual assault can lead to much more shame and stigma. Many survivors blame themselves, especially if they were the ones who drank the alcohol or took the drugs,” Sneider-Cotter explained. She added that alcohol consumption is never a defense in sexual abuse cases.

“Just because you want to drink alcohol doesn’t mean you want to have sex later.”

As for Zink’s conviction for filming the abuse, Sneider-Cotter said the video could serve as crucial evidence in court of lack of consent.

“These cases are really hard to prove because they often happen behind closed doors. It can take years to solve them. But therapy is a really helpful tool,” explains Sneider-Cotter, adding that being incapacitated during the abuse can increase the risk of post-traumatic stress disorder.

The managing director reminds victims of abuse that there is always help available and that there is a large community to rely on, as one in three women will be a victim of sexual violence in their lifetime. That is why anyone who needs help can turn to us at any time.

We have counselors who offer free trauma-focused therapy. We have advocates who are there to support those affected, and we have a crisis hotline that is available 24/7,” she said.

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