David William Hollars
Investigators in North Charleston, South Carolina arrested 55-year-old David William Hollars of Charleston on Monday, April 24th. Hollars is facing charges of trafficking in persons under 18, criminal solicitation of a minor and two counts each of first-degree sexual exploitation of a minor and second-degree criminal sexual conduct with a minor.
Hollars served with the NC Highway Patrol and was based in Wilkes County from 1995 to 2016.
A parent of the 15-year-old victim reported the crimes to the Charleston County Sheriff’s Office in late March. The ensuing investigation showed that the girl was 14 when she met Hollars through the messaging app Snapchat. CCSO detectives found evidence of text messages containing sexually explicit conversations.
The victim also described multiple meetings involving sexual contact and instances of Hollars providing money or items in exchange for sexual contact.
The investigation expanded to other jurisdictions.
On Monday (April 24), Charleston Police Department (CPD) officers and CCSO deputies, along with personnel from Homeland Security Investigations and the Attorney General’s Office, searched Hollars’ home in Berkeley County. He was arrested by Charleston Police on charges involving the same victim. Hollars is being held without bond.
The WILKES RECORD contributed to this story