Bryan Burwell convicted of attempted rape
Quick thinking by the victim-witness saved her from additional harm
ASHEVILLE, N.C. — On Monday, January 27, 2025, Bryan Lamont Burwell, 28 of Asheville, pleaded guilty to one count of felony attempted second degree forcible rape, one count of felony attempted felony breaking and entering, and one count of misdemeanor assault with a deadly weapon.
On July 13, 2024, officers with Asheville Police Department (APD) responded to a reported breaking and entering at an apartment unit within the Deaverview Apartment complex in West Asheville. After initiating an investigation, officers determined that Burwell broke into the home of the victim after attempting to break into other homes within the neighborhood. Burwell found the victim sleeping on her couch and proceeded to hold her at knife point. He then demand that she remove her clothes. The victim, believing Burwell intended to rape her, falsely represented to Burwell that she carried HIV and was not able to have sex with him without endangering his life. The victim’s misrepresentation caused Burwell to flee the scene without further harm to her.
As a result of Burwell’s guilty pleas, Superior Court Judge Alan Thornburg sentenced Burwell to serve a term of imprisonment of 60-132 months within the custody of the N.C. Department of Adult Corrections. Judge Thornburg also ordered Burwell to register as a sex offender for a period of 30 years and to have no contact with the victim for the remainder of her natural life.
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