The Pennsylvania State Police (PSP) announced today that former Lackawanna County Assistant District Attorney Corey Kolcharno allegedly promoted prostitution against at least four female victims from 2018-2022.
The PSP and the Office of Attorney General allege that Kolcharno sexually exploited four women in and around Lackawanna County by demanding sexual services from them or in exchange for payment. An investigation found that Kolcharno initiated contact with vulnerable female clients or female relatives of clients by requesting nude photographs or worn undergarments in exchange for legal services. Later, he requested sex acts in exchange lieu of payment. Many of Kolcharno’s clients suffered from addiction or were victims of sexual abuse in the past. Kolcharno served as Lackawanna County Assistant District Attorney from 2005-2011.
“Corey Kolcharno systematically exploited the vulnerabilities of his victims, who struggled with addiction and had a history of being sexually abused, for his own sexual gratification,” said AG Shapiro. “Kolcharno picked these victims because they had limited choices because he thought they would be easy to silence and less likely to be believed if they ever came forward. As Attorney General, I will stand up for people who need a voice in our Commonwealth.”
One victim told investigators that Kolcharno offered her $500.00 in exchange for sex and did not bill her for the legal services rendered during that period.
In a separate incident, Kolcharno stated that he would take $500.00 off a client’s legal bill if she had sex with him in 2019. Records show that Kolcharno’s staff had deducted the sum from the victim’s account and added the note “per CJK” (Corey John Kolcharno).
Another victim alleges that Kolcharno requested nude photographs and asked for sexual intercourse from her in return for representing her brother in a criminal matter.
“The Pennsylvania State Police is committed to investigating every allegation of sexual misconduct,” said Pennsylvania State Police Lieutenant Colonel Jeremy Richard, Deputy Commissioner of Operations. “Cases like this often present great difficulty for the victims and require an enormous amount of courage for the victims to come forward.”
A forensic examination found hundreds of nude or sexually explicit images of female clients on Kolcharno’s cell phone.
This case is being prosecuted by Lackawanna County Assistant Chief Deputy Attorney General Daniel J. Dye. Kolcharno currently faces four counts of promoting prostitution, a felony of the third degree. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
