DENVER — A former police officer, who was dismissed from his role as an investigator at the U.S. Center for SafeSport due to allegations of theft, has now been arrested on charges of rape and sex trafficking.
Jason Krasley, who previously served in the Allentown, Pennsylvania police department, was detained on Friday facing serious allegations including felony rape and involuntary sexual servitude connected to incidents that reportedly took place between 2011 and 2015, as stated in a release from the district attorney’s office.
Krasley departed from the police department in 2021 and subsequently took a position at SafeSport, where he was terminated last year after it came to light that he had been arrested for allegedly pilfering $5,500 during a drug operation he participated in while serving as an officer.
The new round of charges raises questions about how Krasley passed through the hiring protocols of the SafeSport Center, which officials maintain are thorough and intended to ensure that those employed to handle sensitive cases involving sexual abuse are trustworthy.
Established in 2017 to address issues of sexual abuse within Olympic sports at all levels, the Denver-based center reportedly had 36 investigators as of late last year, with some positions being filled by police personnel experienced in handling similar allegations.
“I am horrified that a former staff member has been implicated in such dreadful actions during his time as a police officer,” noted Ju’Riese Colon, CEO of SafeSport, in a statement issued via email. “We demand the highest standards from all staff members, as safeguarding athletes is our foremost priority.”
Reports indicate that Krasley was involved in two significant cases — one of which was reassigned to another investigator following his arrest for theft. In another instance, a claimant expressed a desire for her case to be reopened, and an email from a SafeSport representative indicated that the case was already under review prior to the developments surrounding Krasley’s arrest.
Colon confirmed that a third-party audit is being conducted regarding the cases tied to Krasley, stating, “We are collaborating with experts to decide what further measures should be implemented given the new allegations.”
In addition to the counts of felony rape and sexual servitude, Krasley is also charged with felony kidnapping, involuntary deviate sexual intercourse, and witness intimidation, along with misdemeanor criminal coercion.
Krasley’s legal representative, James Burke, asserted that his client “absolutely denies the allegations.” Burke has not returned calls from media outlets seeking further comment.
At 47 years of age, Krasley is also implicated in a whistleblower lawsuit filed last year by a pair of Allentown officers who raised concerns regarding systematic misconduct within their department.
In a separate incident on the same day, another Allentown police officer, Kevin Weaver, was arrested and charged with felony rape and involuntary sexual servitude; he has since been placed on administrative leave.
