ALLENTOWN, Pa. – A current and former Allentown police officer accused of sex crimes both appeared in court Monday.
A status conference was held at the Lehigh County Courthouse.
Monday was the first time the Pennsylvania Attorney General’s Office appeared in court after it took over the case from the Lehigh County District Attorney’s Office. The AG’s office wanted the trial to begin as early as next month, but we learned that will not happen.
Retired Allentown Police Officer Jason Krasley and current officer Evan Weaver are charged with various sex crimes allegedly involving prostitutes while working on the police department’s Vice Squad.
The judge and lawyers held a sidebar meeting about an hour Monday morning before any discussion began in front of the courtroom.
There was talk of scheduling a trial date in early January. The defense raised concerns about having enough time to file any pre-trial motions. The judge did not schedule a trial date yet, but instead set a pre-trial hearing in February on the defense’s request.
The case is now being handled by the Pennsylvania Attorney General’s Office, which received it in August.
The Lehigh County District Attorney’s Office said in a statement then that there was a potential conflict of interest in its office and that when those issues arise, in full transparency, it asks an outside agency to determine if a conflict of interest exists.
69 News was there when both Krasley and Weaver exited the courtroom Monday. Both of them remained silent when asked if there was anything they wanted to say.
A hearing has been scheduled for Feb. 20.