Key Takeaways:

• Former investigator Jason Krasley is charged with rape and sex trafficking after a prior dismissal for theft.
• Allegations stem from his tenure as a police officer in Pennsylvania from 2011 to 2015.
• SafeSport CEO expresses shock at the allegations, emphasizing athlete safety as a top priority.
• The Center has initiated a third-party review of cases Krasley was involved in.
• Krasley's attorney has publicly denied the new allegations against him.

DENVER (AP) — Jason Krasley, a former police officer and investigator at the U.S. Center for SafeSport, faces serious charges including felony rape and involuntary sexual servitude. This arrest, which took place on Friday, brings to light allegations of criminal behavior during his time on the force between 2011 and 2015. These new charges follow his firing from SafeSport last year after being accused of theft, where he allegedly stole $5,500 during a drug bust he helped execute.

Officials at the SafeSport Center, which was established in 2017 to address sexual abuse issues in Olympic sports, noted that the recruitment process is supposed to be rigorous. In a statement reflecting on the situation, CEO Ju’Riese Colon stated, “I am appalled that a former staff member has been accused of such heinous acts in his previous role as a police officer. We hold all staff to the highest standard because safeguarding athletes is our utmost priority” (The Guardian). The Center, headquartered in Denver, employs a team of investigators and collaborates with law enforcement to tackle sensitive cases.

Reports have emerged revealing that Krasley had handled at least two cases at SafeSport, one of which has since been reassigned to another investigator. Following the recent arrest, a claimant requested a reopening of her case, which has been confirmed to be under review due to ongoing investigations and media scrutiny. In a proactive move, SafeSport has commissioned an independent audit to reassess the cases Krasley was involved in to ensure that proper actions are taken moving forward.

Alongside the existing charges, Krasley also faces additional counts including felony kidnapping, involuntary deviate sexual intercourse, and witness intimidation, along with misdemeanor criminal coercion. His attorney, James Burke, has stated that Krasley “absolutely denies the allegations,” asserting his innocence amid the mounting legal troubles. Furthermore, Krasley is named in a separate whistleblower lawsuit that highlights alleged widespread misconduct within the Allentown police department. This situation raises pressing questions about how such a breach of trust occurred within an organization dedicated to protecting athletes from abuse and misconduct.

For more information on this developing story, refer to the report by the AP News.