Former firefighter convicted of sexually assaulting teenager in Buncombe County.

BUNCOMBE COUNTY, NC (FOX Carolina) – The Buncombe County District Attorney’s Office said a former firefighter was recently convicted of sexually assaulting a teenager in 2018.

Officials said 33-year-old David Wilson of Black Mountain pleaded guilty May 20 to second-degree rape.

According to officials, officers began investigating when someone reported the incident on June 30, 2018.

Officials said Wilson was 27 and the victim was 15 when the attack occurred. Officers said Wilson drove the victim in his truck and gave her alcoholic beverages before sexual intercourse without her consent and demanded that she keep the assault a secret.

During the attack, the victim defended himself by scratching Wilson. Officials confirmed that people close to Wilson reported seeing scratches on his arms at work shortly after the incident.

Officials said the victim was medically evaluated by the Mountain Child Advocacy Center, but initial DNA testing did not show a match to Wilson. However, the samples were retested in 2020 using newer software and showed there was a clear genetic match to him.

After pleading guilty, Wilson was sentenced to 48 to 118 months in prison. He was also ordered to register as a sex offender and have no contact with the victim for the rest of his natural life.

“I thank investigators for conducting a trauma-informed and collaborative investigation in collaboration with the Mountain Child Advocacy Center and am grateful that new technology will spare a courageous victim from having to testify about private and traumatic events in a public trial District Attorney Todd said Williams. “I wish her peace and healing.”

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