Former and current Allentown police officers, who faced rape, prostitution and other crimes while on duty, forced a prostitute to engage in non-consensual sexual acts to avoid prison time, authorities say.

Evan Jz Weaver, 45, of the 8800 block of Clearwater Circle in Weisenberg Township, is charged with two counts of rape; one count: kidnapping with intent to commit terror; one count felony involuntary servitude; two counts: felony involuntary deviant sexual intercourse with threat of violent coercion; and related crimes.

Jason Krasley, 47, of the 6400 block of Meadowview Terrace in Upper Milford Township, is charged with two counts of rape; one count felony involuntary servitude; one count of sexual assault; three counts: misdemeanor indecent assault; and related crimes.

Both Krasley and Weaver were arraigned Jan. 10 before District Judge Linda Vega Sirop, who set bail at 10% of $750,000 and 10% of $900,000, respectively. Krasley was taken to the Lehigh County Jail in lieu of bail. Court records show Krasley has since posted bond and Weaver posted bond following arraignment.

Bethlehem-based attorney James Burke, who represents Krasley, said his client “absolutely denies” the allegations. Court records did not immediately indicate that Weaver had received legal representation.

Before this week, investigators requested the probable cause affidavits of the incident be sealed because they believed the documents posed a potential danger to the victim. The court records are now unsealed, shedding more light on the case.

Investigators with the Lehigh County District Attorney’s Office began investigating the couple from May 2011 to early 2015.

Both Krasley and Weaver were employed by the department’s vice division during this period. Krasley’s duties included investigating prostitution and related crimes, while Weaver’s duties included investigating illegal drugs and weapons possession, court records said.

According to authorities, on May 12, 2011, Weaver was assigned to investigate a drug incident involving the female victim’s boyfriend. According to court documents, Weaver was involved in the couple’s arrest at a townhouse.

Each was handcuffed and separated during the arrest. The victim got into an unmarked police SUV with Weaver and a driver while the friend was taken by police to be examined, according to court documents.

The victim told investigators in an interview that she believed she was under arrest and her Miranda rights were guaranteed. Weaver told her that if she didn’t cooperate, “her entire life would be thrown away,” court records say.

Weaver then told the woman she could do anything to avoid going to jail, authorities said.

The driver of the SUV took the victim undercover to a parking lot and was asked by Weaver to leave, court records show. Weaver then allegedly forced the woman to perform a sex act while both remained in the SUV.

The woman later gave a written statement at the police station and was released without charges, according to court records.

The victim claimed she maintained contact with Weaver and continued to engage in sexual acts with him until early 2015 to avoid prosecution for various incidents in which he was involved, court records state.

Authorities said Krasley and Weaver both came into contact with the victim again in 2015 when Krasley contacted them as part of an investigation into online sex ads. According to court documents, Krasley arranged to meet her at a townhouse as part of the undercover prostitution work.

Krasley didn’t identify himself as a police officer until the female victim showed up, recognized him and knew him from other previous interactions, court records say. Weaver also knew they were at the victim’s home, authorities said.

When the victim asked if she was going to jail, Krasley allegedly replied, “Why should I put you in jail? You know what you have to do.”

Krasley then allegedly raped the victim until Weaver came into the room and asked Krasley to stop, court records say. According to court documents, the woman told Krasley “no” and attempted to stop him throughout the incident. Weaver is then said to have forced the victim into a sexual act.

Authorities say Weaver and Krasley did not document the 2015 incident or press charges.

Krasley left the department in 2021 and worked for SafeSport Center, which fired him last year shortly after learning he had been arrested for allegedly stealing $5,500 in a drug raid he helped carry out while on assignment stole US dollars. Krasley is named in a whistleblower lawsuit filed last year by two Allentown officers who alleged widespread misconduct in the department.

Weaver, a current sergeant on the force, has since been placed on administrative leave.

Krasley and Weaver are each due to return to court for a preliminary hearing, scheduled to take place at 1:45 p.m. on Jan. 21 before Vega Sirop. A judge will then determine whether there is enough evidence to send the case to the Lehigh County Court of Common Pleas for trial.

If convicted, each of them faces a maximum penalty of life in prison.

Please subscribe now and support the local journalism you trust and rely on.

Pamela Sroka-Holzmann can be reached at [email protected].