Watch CBS News

Rape Charges Refiled Against Former Head of Montco GOP

By Brad Segall

HARRISBURG, Pa. (CBS) -- Pennsylvania's attorney general has refiled rape charges against a former Montgomery County GOP chairman.

Robert Kerns is being charged with rape and sexual assault of a female paralegal who worked in his law firm, in a case that had been earlier filed  (see related story) and then abandoned by the Montgomery County DA's office.

According to investigators, last October Kerns offered to drive the alleged victim home from a celebratory gathering in Blue Bell they were both attending because she felt she had too much to drink.

The state attorney general's office says the woman was first assaulted in King of Prussia, inside Kerns' car, and then at her residence, where Kerns, 66, allegedly engaged in sexual acts without the woman's knowledge or consent.

Kerns now faces eight counts -- four of them felonies, four misdemeanors.

Just a few weeks ago, the Montgomery County DA decided to drop all charges related to the case after admitting that her office had misinterpreted a toxicology report which they incorrectly thought indicated the victim had the sleep drug Ambien in her system at the time of the alleged assaults (see related story).

The Montgomery County DA's office referred the case to the Pennsylvania attorney general's office for subsequent follow-up.

Kerns was arraigned this afternoon in Montgomery County with bail set at ten-percent payment of $1 million.

 

View CBS News In
CBS News App Open
Chrome Safari Continue
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.