Police in Northampton County are accusing a firefighter of sexually assaulting a 14-year-old girl.
40-year-old Michael Dempsey Jr. was a captain in the Borough Fire Department. Now, the Department says he has been suspended until further notice.
The alleged incident happened in Northampton Borough in 2018. The victim in the police report, a then 14-year-old girl only identified as A-F., said the assault began with the simplest of things: Going to hang out with her friend.
Michael Dempsey Jr. was her friend’s step-father, and he was 32 at the time. A.F. came to their house on W 27th St. and was hanging out in a detached garage on the property when her friend said she was going to take a shower. That left A-F alone with Dempsey.
According to the court records, A.F. told police, as she was cleaning up a picnic they had, Dempsey grabbed her from behind, pulled down her pants, and sexually-assaulted her with his hands and mouth. But it wasn’t until months later, in April of 2019, that A.F. told her therapist about what had happened. As a mandated reporter, her therapist was required to contact police.
Officers took down A.F.’s story, but then a few months later, A.F. and her family moved out of the area. For some reason, the investigation came to a halt. Open, but unfinished, until May of this year, when Police Chief Bryan Kadingo asked his officers to look at it again.
Northampton Police had no comment on that gap in time. The District Attorney’s office only said “The statute of limitations does not commence until the victim reaches the age of 18. These charges were filed well within the applicable time period.”
The Northampton Borough Fire Department released a statement as well, saying Dempsey is now suspended, it had previously run a background check on him, and “the conduct alleged is inconsistent with the values and standards of the Northampton Fire Department.”
Dempsey is now facing four felony charges, including aggravated indecent assault and corruption of a minor. Dempsey was able to post a $50,000 bond, so he is out on bail awaiting his preliminary hearing, which is scheduled for August 25th.