CHERRYVILLE, N.C. -- An 18-year-old Cherryville woman said a friend's quick action saved her from being raped Saturday night.
The teenager was visiting 30-year-old Dana Burleson at her home on South Jacob Street when they heard a noise in the downstairs hallway.
The teenager said when she went to look there was a man there who started yelling at her in Spanish.
She told NBC Charlotte that the man pushed her into a bedroom and forced her down on a couch where he attempted to rape her.
"I didn't know what to think. I was just scared," said the teenager who didn't want her identity revealed.
She recalled yelling for help and that’s when her friend sprung into action. Burleson grabbed a knife from the kitchen and confronted the man, ordering him to get out.
"Dana pulled out a knife, but didn't touch him with it," the teen said. "She's just telling him like, 'You need to get out of here. I've got a knife and I'm calling the law so get out of here now.'"
The intruder ran out the front door and took off in a car.
Another person was able to get the tag number of the car and called police.
Based on the tag and a description provided by the women, police later arrested 53-year-old Juan Villalobos of Lincolnton on sexual assault charges.
The 18-year-old said she is glad her friend had the presence of mind to grab the knife and help her.
"You know, I could have been hurt, killed, anything." she said.
