Rape Charges Against Kerns Dismissed

Rape charges against former Montgomery County Republican Party Chairman Robert J. Kerns were dismissed Wednesday by a district judge.

The judge let stand lesser charges of aggravated assault and indecent assault, The Philadelphia Inquirer said.

The Montgomery County District Attorney's Office in April dropped all rape and sexual-assault charges against Kerns, referring the case to state Attorney General Kathleen Kane.

At issue in the county's case was 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 at the time.

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.