Federal authorities Tuesday announced that former Ashley Borough Police Officer, Mark Icker, 30, plead guilty in federal court to violating the civil rights of two females in his custody whom he sexually assaulted, according to officials.
The criminal information alleges that Icker worked as a police officer for the Ashley Borough Police Department in December 2018.
On Dec. 3, 2018 and Dec. 10, 2018, Icker, while acting under color of the laws of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, willfully deprived two women of their liberty without due process of law, which includes the right to bodily integrity, by coercing the women into engaging in unwanted sexual contact with him, authorities stated.
“The Department of Justice will continue to vigorously prosecute law enforcement officers who exploit their authority to sexually abuse individuals in their custody,” said Assistant Attorney Genral Eric Dreiband for the Civil Rights Division.
“We count on law enforcement officers at all levels to uphold their oaths, and to serve and protect the public,” said U.S. Attorney David J. Freed for the Middle District of Pennsylvania. “When a line is crossed, and a protector becomes a predator, we must act – swiftly and with certainty.”
Adding, “While I am extremely proud of the cooperative efforts of law enforcement in this case, especially my colleagues and partners in the Luzerne County District Attorney’s Office, we are only able to pursue this prosecution because of the bravery of the victims. In a case where one of us in law enforcement did something so very wrong, the innocent victims stood up for what is right. We are proud to seek justice on their behalf.”
“A police officer using his position of authority to sexually exploit women is utterly contemptible,” said Michael T. Harpster, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Philadelphia Division. “Mark Icker felt entitled enough to coerce his victims into sex acts. He clearly expected to get away with violating their bodies and their civil rights. The public corruption and civil rights squad at our Scranton Resident Agency was determined to seek justice for the women involved, and keep Icker from harming anyone else in this way.”
Icker was terminated from his position with the Ashley Borough Police Department in December 2018. Icker was also terminated from part-time positions he held with the Sugar Notch and Jessup Police Departments.
Icker is facing up to 20 years’ in prison.
DOJ NOTED
This case was investigated by the Scranton Office of the FBI – Philadelphia Division, and the Luzerne County District Attorney’s Office.
Prosecution is assigned to Assistant United States Attorneys Michelle Olshefski and Jeffery St. John of the Middle District of Pennsylvania and Trial Attorney Shan Patel of the Civil Rights Division of the U.S. Department of Justice.