Former Ligonier Valley police chief facing multiple felonies for alleged sexual assault

DONEGAL, Pa. — UPDATE 5/4/24 (10 PM)

Officials with DreamLife Recovery reached out to Channel 11 on Saturday and confirmed that Berger had been fired.

A former Westmoreland County police chief is now on the other side of the law.

Former Ligonier Valley Chief John Berger is behind bars at the Westmoreland County Jail after being arrested Friday on sexual assault charges.

This comes after he was fired from Ligonier Valley Police last May following a raid by federal agents.

Previous coverage >>> Police board votes to fire Ligonier Valley chief John Berger

“It’s unbelievable. I can’t believe it,” said Daniel Beranek. He was one of several people Channel 11 spoke to in Donegal, shocked to learn of Berger’s arrest Friday for allegedly sexually assaulting a patient at a Donegal rehab center.

“Very, very horrible,” said Beranek.

According to State Police, the sexual assault happened at DreamLife Recovery in Donegal.

Berger began working there in January as a Behavioral Health Technician following a stint at the drug and alcohol rehab center as a patient and his firing as the Ligonier Valley Police Chief last May.

He was fired after federal agents raided the department and seized his phone and police cruiser.

“There’s no excuse for it honestly but definitely being held accountable and being a police officer to held to a higher standard and falling like that is pretty atrocious,” said Zachary Buchholz, who also spoke to Channel 11 in Donegal.

Investigators say Berger first met the victim last year when they were both patients at DreamLife.

She told police, “Berger would make unwanted sexual advances towards her almost weekly if not daily.”

The police report states those advances resumed starting in March when the victim returned to DreamLife.

“Unbelievable honestly. I wouldn’t say that he should be working there anymore or around in that environment and definitely should probably seek a little bit of help for that as well,” said Buchholz.

On Monday around 11:00 pm, police paperwork states Berger went into the victim’s room while she was sleeping, woke her up by whispering her name and “forcefully started to kiss her.”

State Police say he then groped her and forced her to give him oral sex.

“I would never think a law enforcement officer would be doing that,” Beranek said.

In an interview with State Police Friday, investigators say Berger owned up to the charges.

Berger is now being held at the Westmoreland County Jail unable to post $100,000 bail.

An attorney for DreamLife sent the following statement to Channel 11: “We are aware of the recent allegation of sexual misconduct, and the facility is taking the matter very seriously. Maintaining the highest standards of integrity and patient safety is their top priority, and they have no tolerance for any such conduct. Active investigations began immediately after the situation was reported to them, and they are committed to working closely with the affected individual to provide support needed at this time. The accused has been fully restricted from access to any facility, patient or company data while investigations remain underway.”

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