ASHEVILLE, N.C. (828newsNOW)
A Black Mountain man pleaded guilty to second-degree forcible rape Monday and was sentenced to spend at least four years in prison.
New technology corroborated the survivor’s story, providing a genetic match to David Brandon Wilson, 33.
On June 30, 2018, Buncombe County Sheriff’s deputies were called to Lytle Cove Road Extension about a sexual assault.
Investigators were advised the girl was 15 years old at the time of the assault and Wilson was 27, according to the Buncombe County District Attorney’s Office. They determined Wilson drove the victim in his truck, plied her with alcoholic beverages and engaged in intercourse without her consent, according to the news release. Wilson demanded that she keep the assault confidential.
The girl told investigators she defended herself by scratching Wilson with her fingernails, and the received corroborating statements from witnesses who saw scratches on Wilson’s arms at work after the incident, the news release said.
Although initial DNA testing conducted in 2018 yielded no match to the defendant, samples were retested using STRmix forensic software, which was first available in late 2020. Those tests yielded a conclusive genetic match to Wilson, the district attorney’s office said in the release.
FUGITIVE ARRESTED AFTER BLACK MOUNTAIN POLICE CHASE, CRASH
Wilson was sentenced to serve an active prison term 48 to 118 months in the custody of the North Carolina Department of Adult Correction. He was also ordered to register as a sex offender and complete a sex offender evaluation and follow all treatment recommendations. As a final condition of his judgment, Wilson was ordered to have no contact with the victim for the remainder of his natural life.
The victim was present and supported by her family at sentencing and spoke to the court about the impact these events had on her. The victim expressed approval of the plea agreement, the district attorney’s office said.
“I thank investigators for performing a trauma-informed, and collaborative investigation in concert with the Mountain Child Advocacy Center, and am grateful that new technology relieved a courageous victim from testifying about private and traumatic events at a public trial. I wish her peace and healing,” D.A. Todd Williams said in the news release.