UPDATE: Rape, Sexual-Assault Charges Against Kerns Dropped

The Montgomery County District Attorney's Office has dropped all rape and sexual-assault charges against former Montgomery County Republican Committee Chairman Robert J. Kerns.

Montgomery County District Attorney Risa Vetri Ferman announced a nolle prosequi of charges against Kerns, and said that the District Attorney's Office was referring the case to Pennsylvania Attorney General Kathleen Kane. Kane has accepted the case, Ferman said.
At issue is the misinterpretation of a piece of evidence, and the fact that the  misinterpretation was presented to a Grand Jury. "The Grand Jury relied upon that inaccurate evidence to make its charging recommendations," the District Attorney's Office said.

Members of the Grand Jury were told that the drug zolpidem, or Ambien, was found in the complainant's system, when in fact no trace of the drug was found, the District Attorney's Office said. The Grand Jury apparently gave significant weight to that incorrect evidence when deciding whether to hand down indictments.

“While the admission of inaccurate information to the Grand Jury was unintentional, it regretfully happened. Upon discovering the issue, my office immediately took steps to investigate, acknowledge and take corrective actions in the matter,” Ferman said.

Ferman also said she would take actions within the District Attorney's Office to protect the integrity of evidence and the investigative process.

Kerns in November 2013 was charged with 19 felony and misdemeanor criminal counts. He resigned his party chairmanship on Nov. 14, 2013.

The complainant was an employee at Kerns' Upper Gwynedd law firm, Patch reported in November.