Johnstown police officer charged with third-degree rape

Johnstown police officer charged with third-degree rape

A member of the Johnstown Police Department who is also Montgomery County’s emergency management director was arrested last week for allegedly raping a 16-year-old girl.
Adam Schwabrow, 31, was charged with third-degree rape on Sept. 20, according to Johnstown police. The rape was not forcible, however, the female involved was not old enough to give consent, police said. The legal age of consent in New York is 17.
Schwabrow was arrested at the Johnstown Police Department.
He posted bail and is to appear in court this week.
Schwabrow has been employed as a Johnstown police officer for nine years and is the department’s K-9 officer. He is married with children.
“As chairman of the Board of Supervisors, I am saddened to learn of recent developments pertaining to the arrest of Montgomery County Emergency Management Director Adam Schwabrow. After learning of these events, I have taken immediate action and placed Mr. Schwabrow on administrative leave with pay pending more information and future developments,” county Board of Supervisors John Thayer said in a statement.
Deputy Director Rick Sager has been placed in charge of the county’s Emergency Management Office until further notice, Thayer said.
“Members of the Montgomery County Board of Supervisors and I will continue to work with authorities and monitor this situation closely,” said Thayer.
Schwabrow has been suspended from the Johnstown Police Department with pay pending an internal investigation.
If convicted, Schwabrow faces up to four years in state prison.
Montgomery County District Attorney Louise Sira will ask for a special prosecutor to handle the case because of Schwabrow’s position.