From WRIL -
A man initially identified as a John Doe was found guilty of a sexual offense in Bell County Circuit Court on Wednesday June 22, 2022. He was later identified as 42-year-old Dilver Dilson Hernandez Avila by Middlesboro Officer Nick Capps after an investigation stemming from a September 2, 2019 incident at a local Middlesboro restaurant.
Officer Capps’ citation states that on September 3, 2019, the mother of an 11-year-old juvenile came to the Middlesboro Police Department to report that an employee of a restaurant had inappropriately touched the child. The juvenile stated that on September 2nd around 4:00 pm, she walked into the kitchen where her mother (at the time) was employed and the cook, identified as Hernandez - also known as “Wilson" -touched her sexually multiple times. The girl also stated that Hernandez attempted to coerce her into the cooler away from any cameras.
After reviewing video inside the business showing Hernandez touching the child below the waist sexually, kissing her as she pulled away, and attempting to have her go to the cooler with him as she declined, Officer Capps arrested and charged him with Sexual Abuse – 1st degree.
After the two-day jury trial, Hernandez he was found guilty on the charge and he was sentenced to 10 years in prison.
Commonwealth Attorney Lisa Fugate said: “I think the outcome of the jury trial today was fair, justice was definitely served on behalf of the victim in this case and the jury got it right. They showed up and showed that the citizens of Bell County will look at a criminal defendant and they will be fair, and they are not afraid to hold them accountable for their actions.”