Detectives with the Delaware State Police have charged a former Laurel, Del., police officer with second-degree rape and ten counts of sexual extortion on Wednesday.
Authorities believe he was still employed by the Laurel Police Department and on duty during these alleged incidents.
Detectives began investigating Kevin D. Hovatter of Laurel, Del., after they received anonymous information regarding the 32-year-old. As a result of their investigation, detectives say that Hovatter first took advantage of the female victim, now 28, while looking into a domestic incident between her and her boyfriend, when Hovatter inappropriately touched the victim in the processing room of the police station.
For two and a half years after, the woman met with the former officer several times “for fear of being arrested by Hovatter and sent to jail,” according to a press release, which alleges that Hovatter committed more “inappropriate acts” on the victim during these meetings.
The former officer was charged five years ago after a similar incident, when authorities say he coerced a 55-year-old into his police cruiser during a traffic stop near Delmar, Del., after which he committed an inappropriate act while against the victim.
For this latter incident, Hovatter was charged with two counts of first-degree rape, coercion, and other related charges.
Hovatter has been a registered sex offender in Delaware since June 2007.
He is currently being held on $40,000 secured bond.
