dwayne fire chief

NEWPORT, Del. -

Delaware State Police have arrested former deputy fire chief for the Belvedere Fire Company of Newport Delaware for rape and other charges.

Police say the former chief is 39-year-old Dwayne Pearson. 

Police say he was arrested for rape and other charges after accusations he was having a sexual relationship with a 15-year-old girl.

Police say that this past September they received information that a Belvedere firefighter was having sex with a minor.

Police say detectives investigated and determined that the girl and Pearson had engaged in sexual relationship from July of last year until August of last year (2022).

Earlier this month, a warrant was obtained for Pearson's arrest.

On Thursday, January 12th, Pearson turned himself in at Troop 2, where he was charged with 2nd degree rape, sexual abuse of a child by a person of trust, and unlawful sexual contact with a person under 18-years-old.