Crime & Safety
Alleged Rapist is Former Macungie Fire Chief
Township worker was charged with taking department property.
The Lower Macungie Township worker has been in trouble with the law before - when he was Macungie fire chief and fire marshal.
James Michael Andrews stole a digital camera from the Macungie fire station - a crime which led him to be fined $300 and placed probation for a year after he pleaded guilty to theft.
Andrews was sent to Lehigh County jail in lieu of $200,000 bail last week after being charged with sexualy assaulting a boy, 13, seven or eight times from August 2011 to March 8, 2012.
Find out what's happening in Lower Macungiewith free, real-time updates from Patch.
Andrews has worked for for almost 22 years. Police say some of the assaults took place in the township's maintenance building at 5536 Indian Creek Road and also a Andrews' home.
Township officials have suspended Andrews without pay pending the outcome of the criminal case.
Find out what's happening in Lower Macungiewith free, real-time updates from Patch.
Andrews' attorney, Michael Ira Stump, told the Morning Call that his client will plead guilty to the charges.
Township officialssaying they are "deeply troubled" by the alleged attacks.
A preliminary hearing for Andrews is scheduled for 1:30 p.m. on April 9 in Lehigh County Central Court.
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