A Monroe County police corporal has been charged with rape after he allegedly promised to drop a DUI charge if the driver had sex with him.

The arrest of 53-year-old Steven Paul Mertz, of Mahoning Township in Carbon County, was announced Wednesday in a news conference with the Monroe County District Attorney’s Office and Mertz’s former employer, the Pocono Mountain Regional Police Department.

The rape allegedly occurred Oct. 16 after the victim was stopped for drunken driving. Her identity was withheld in a police affidavit due to the nature of the allegations.

E. David Christine, Jr., District Attorney of Monroe County, and Chief Christopher Wagner, Chief of Police for the... Posted by Monroe County Office of the District Attorney on Wednesday, October 23, 2019

The affidavit says the driver was taken to a Pennsylvania State Police barracks for blood-alcohol testing but was allowed to be driven home by Mertz pending a court appearance. They talked about personal things on the way and as they got to her home Mertz suggested he would drop the DUI charge if they continued the conversation “somewhere more private,” the affidavit says.

They parked in a cul-de-sac where Mertz, still wearing his uniform, raped her, police allege. Mertz dropped her off at home, leaving his business card and the name of the judge the victim needed to see in the morning.

The victim immediately called a friend, who told her to gather evidence and report what had happened, the affidavit says.

The affidavit also includes a text conversation with Mertz hours after the alleged rape, in which the officer reportedly references having sex and says he’ll talk with the judge to help her avoid a DUI:

“Do you want me to call the judge and smooth things up?” Mertz allegedly texted at one point.

“If you think you calling will help me then yes please I'll definitely owe you one,” the victim replied.

Mertz responded: “I like the way you think,” according to court records.

Mertz was arraigned Wednesday on charges of rape, involuntary deviate sexual intercourse, sexual assault, coercion, aggravated indecent assault, indecent assault, bribery, obstruction and official oppression. He was sent to the Monroe County prison in lieu of $50,000 bail.

A call for comment to an attorney listed for Mertz was not immediately returned.

Steve Novak may be reached at snovak@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow him on Twitter @SteveNovakLVL and Facebook. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook.