Former Montco GOP chair re-charged by AG Kane in alleged rape of paralegal

Former Montco GOP chair Robert Kerns has been re-charged with allegedly raping a paralegal. Credit: AG's Office Former Montco GOP chair Robert Kerns has been re-charged with allegedly raping a paralegal. Credit: AG’s Office

Charges of rape against a local attorney and politician dismissed two months ago by Montgomery County D.A. Risa Ferman have been resurrected by the office of Attorney General Kathleen Kane.

Robert Kerns, 66, of North Wales, was taken into custody today, the Attorney General’s office announced.

Kern was previously charged in Montgomery County with allegedly drugging and raping a 51-year-old paralegal who worked at his former law firm on the night of Oct. 25, 2013 when the firm reportedly held a party at Radice diner in Blue Bell, Pa.

However, after lab technicians found that reports positive for drugs in the victim’s system were inaccurate and that she had not been drugged, D.A. Ferman dropped charges in March.

Now Kern is charged with three counts of indecent assault, two counts of aggravated indecent assault, one count of rape, one count of sexual assault and one count of simple assault.

The new charges make no reference to Kerns allegedly drugging the victim.

Kerns, the former Montgomery County GOP chair, stepped down after being charged and resigned from partnership at a law firm.