In a three-day jury trial held Sept 24-26, 2024, Gallatin resident David Holland was acquitted of two counts of rape and two counts of sexual battery by an authority figure. Sumner County Criminal Court Judge Dee David Gay presided over the trial.
Holland was represented by Attorneys Brett Bukowski and Christian Moore, the founding partners of Bukowski & Moore PLLC out of Nashville. According to Bukowski, the Defendant was questioned by Moore while Bukowski handled the opening and closing arguments, as well as the cross-examination of the State's witnesses.
In his comments about the case, Bukowski wrote, " Mr. Holland maintained his innocence throughout the judicial process and took the stand on his own behalf. The jury returned a verdict of not guilty on all counts."
Assistant District Attorney Nathan S. Nichols commented about the case to the Gallatin News, writing, “Though Mr. Holland was ultimately found not guilty of rape and sexual battery, I found it notable that, during his trial testimony, Mr. Holland freely admitted traveling to a home at which he did not live, (pleasuring himself) inside a living room full of sleeping children, some of whom were less than 8-years-of-age, and later ‘waking up’ with his hand on the (privates) of a 13-year-old girl. None of this behavior can be described as appropriate or even remotely normal.
“We believed the evidence in this case was overwhelming given the fact that Mr. Holland’s semen was found on the victim’s blanket and his DNA was found inside her underwear. Obviously, the jury disagreed. While I cannot say I agree with the verdict, I respect it and appreciate the Jury’s service in this very difficult and disturbing case.”
Nichols continued, “Though the outcome of Mr. Holland’s case is troubling, it will not deter the District Attorney’s Office from continuing to aggressively prosecute those who perpetrate sexual offenses in Sumner County. We also fully intend to continue assisting this victim and her family in any way possible.”
Holland, who was 31 at the time of his arrest, was taken into custody by the Sumner County Sheriff’s Office on July 4, 2023, after receiving a report that Holland had allegedly raped a 13-year-old girl. Holland served a 12-hour mandatory hold and was placed on a bond of $150,000. Conditions of that bond included no contact with the victim or her family, no possessing or using a firearm, and no possession or usage of alcohol or controlled substances. He was required to wear an electronic GPS monitoring device.
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