Crime & Safety

Report: Montco GOP Chairman Accused of Sexual Assault Charges

Robert Kerns, a prominent attorney and solicitor for some Montgomery County municipalities, has been the Montgomery County Republican Committee chairman since 2008.

Montgomery County Republican Committee Chairman Robert Kerns, of Upper Gwynedd Township, has been accused of sexual assault of a woman on Oct. 25 and is now under investigation, according to NBC10 and sources for Patch.
According to sources, Kerns, allegedly committed the act while drunk in King of Prussia on the night after the Oct. 24 Montgomery County Republican Committee Fall Reception, where Gov. Tom Corbett announced a truce between warring factions of Montgomery County GOP.
The alleged victim was a woman he worked with, per Philly.com. Philly.com also reports that a grand jury is supposedly being convened and Kerns' law partner was subpoenaed.
Read more at http://www.philly.com/philly/blogs/cityhall/Source-Montco-GOP-chair-to-be-charged-with-sex-assault.html#j0PZDuW1DcXrQ8oO.99NBC10 reports investigators have been to Kerns' home and to his Wissahickon Avenue law firm in Upper Gwynedd.
He has not yet been charged, as of Wednesday evening.
Kerns is the solicitor of Upper Gwynedd Township, among others. His firm is Kerns, Pearlstine, Onorato and Hladik, LLP.
Kerns was elected the county GOP chairman in 2008 after multiple failed attempts at the position. He ran unopposed for re-election in 2010.
He had a successful run in his early years as chairman, including winning six of seven judgeships in Montgomery County in 2009.
Kerns' success began to slide in the 2011 endorsement process. After the 2011 General Election, committee members petitioned to have Kerns removed as the leader of the organization, but they didn't win. Kerns' term ends December 2014.
Republican leaders are said to already be discussing Kerns' successor as chairman.
Upper Gwynedd Police representatives said the department is not involved in the investigation.


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