Christopher Osborne, Forcible Rape, West Virginia 2021

West Virginia Woman Raped by Former Official

A 26-year-old former official has pleaded guilty to violating the civil rights of a 16-year-old victim by forcibly raping her in a bunk room at the Danville Fire Department in Danville, West Virginia.

Christopher Osborne, a former officer with the Marmet Police Department in Marmet, West Virginia, and a firefighter with both the Charleston Fire Department in Charleston, West Virginia, and the Danville Volunteer Fire Department, admitted that on or about January 19, 2021, he used his position, authority, and status as a firefighter to forcibly sexually assault the victim.

According to court documents, Osborne held the victim down inside the bunk room at the fire station and sexually assaulted her despite her telling him that she did not want to have sex, causing her pain and bodily injury.

“The defendant abused his official authority and position of power to perpetrate a violent sexual assault on a 16-year-old girl,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke. “Officials who carry out sexual assaults on vulnerable people will be held accountable. The Civil Rights Division will continue to use our criminal civil rights laws to stand up for the survivors of these heinous crimes.”

Christopher Osborne faces a 14-year prison sentence, with a maximum of five years of supervised release, and registration as a sex offender under the Federal Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act. A sentencing date has been set for July 13.

This case was investigated by the Pittsburgh Division of the FBI with the support of the West Virginia State Police and the West Virginia State Fire Marshals. It is being prosecuted by Trial Attorney Kathryn E. Gilbert of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jennifer Rada Herrald and Julie White for the Southern District of West Virginia.

Mandatory Facts: Defendant’s Full Name: Christopher Osborne, Exact Criminal Charges: Forcible Rape, City and State: Danville, West Virginia, Exact Date: January 19, 2021, Sentence or Outcome: 14-year prison sentence with 5 years supervised release, and registration as a sex offender under the Federal Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act.

Related Federal Cases