Former firefighter accused of sexually assaulting teen girl with disabilities

A former firefighter in New Hampshire is accused of the ongoing sexual assault of a 15-year-old girl with disabilities for more than five years, police said.

According to authorities, 42-year-old Joshua Gilbert sexually assaulted the girl from 2012 to 2017. The girl was 15 years old when it started. Gilbert was a firefighter in New Market, New Hampshire.

Gilbert was arrested in the spring on one count of sexual assault, officials said.

However, additional charges involving the same victim were brought forward during the grand jury process, police said. Gilbert has now been indicted on 18 counts of sexual assault, the Bangor Daily News reported.

The indictments stated the girl had a disability that made her incapable of consent, but it did not detail what condition the victim had.

Authorities also said Gilbert had reason to believe that the girl had a disability.

Gilbert is no longer employed as one of the town’s two full-time firefighters, officials said.

Gilbert is facing 10 to 20 years in prison on each count if he is convicted, authorities said.