Burlington man arrested after reported rape on Chestnut Street, police say

Burlington police arrested a 59-year-old man after a reported sexual assault in the 300 block of Chestnut Street, taking him into custody when he returned to the area as officers were still investigating.

Investigators identified the suspect as Ernest James Jackson Jr. Police said they were called to Chestnut Street at 8:05 a.m. Sunday, April 13, after a report of an assault. Court documents say Jackson knew the victim, who was physically helpless. He is charged with second-degree forcible rape.

Police said Jackson allegedly sexually assaulted the victim, left the scene, then came back while officers were still on the block. When he returned, he was arrested. Jackson remains in the Alamance County Jail without bond.

North Carolina law defines second-degree forcible rape as vaginal intercourse by force and against the will of the other person, or intercourse with someone who is mentally disabled, mentally incapacitated or physically helpless when the accused knew or should have known about that condition. The charge in this case places the allegations squarely under that statute, and the court process will determine what evidence supports the accusation.

The case is moving through a system that changed recently. North Carolina fully implemented eCourts statewide on Oct. 13, 2025, and court records can be accessed through the county clerk’s office and the state judicial branch system. That means the next public updates in the case are likely to come through court filings, bond paperwork or additional statements from Burlington police.

The arrest drew attention in Burlington, a city of 57,303 people in the 2020 Census. City officials say census counts affect how much federal funding Burlington and Alamance County receive for programs over the next decade, a reminder that public safety cases and local resources are tied to the size and needs of the community. For residents on Chestnut Street, the immediate facts are that the investigation is ongoing, the suspect is in custody, and the allegations will now be tested in court.