Erie County District Attorney John J. Flynn announces that 47-year-old Brett A. Rider of Kenmore was virtually arraigned today before State Supreme Court Justice Deborah A. Haendiges on an indictment charging him with the following criminal offenses:

• One count of Predatory Sexually Assault, a Class “A-I” felony
• Two counts of Rape in the First Degree, Class “B” felonies
• One count of Criminal Sexual Act in the First Degree, a Class “B” felony
• One count of Attempted Criminal Sexual Act in the First Degree, a Class “C” felony
• Two counts of Sexual Abuse in the First Degree, Class “D” felonies
• Two counts of Rape in the Third Degree, Class “E” felonies
• One count of Stalking in the Third Degree, a Class “A” misdemeanor

The defendant is accused of engaging in inappropriate, sexually harassing behavior while on-duty as an acting dispatch supervisor for the Town of Tonawanda Police Department. It is further alleged that the defendant sexually assaulted three female employees.

The defendant is accused of engaging in sexual intercourse by forcible compulsion with a female victim in September 2009. It is further alleged that between September 2015 and December 2015, the defendant engaged in sexual intercourse with the same female victim without her consent.

The defendant allegedly subjected a second female victim to sexual conduct by forcibly touching her intimate parts and forcing her to touch his intimate parts in June 2017. It is further alleged that the defendant attempted to engage in oral sexual conduct with the victim on the same occasion by forcible compulsion.

It is alleged that between November 2017 and January 2018, the defendant engaged in sexual intercourse with a third female victim without her consent. It is further alleged that the defendant engaged in sexual conduct by forcible compulsion with the victim by locking her into a room in the Town of Tonawanda police complex and blocking the door in August 2018. He also accused of engaging in sexual intercourse by forcible compulsion by hitting the victim in the face while forcing sexual intercourse in November 2019.

The defendant is also accused of stalking the third victim by calling and sending text messages, claiming to know her whereabouts and physically following her. The alleged harassing behavior made the victim fearful of physical injury or sexual assault by the defendant.  

Rider is scheduled to return on December 15, 2020 at 3:00 p.m. He was remanded without bail. 

If convicted on all counts, Rider faces a maximum of 73 years to life in prison.

Judge Haendiges issued orders of protection on behalf of the three victims.

DA Flynn commends the Town of Tonawanda Police Department for their work in the investigation.  

The case is being prosecuted by Chief Lynette M. Reda of the DA’s Special Victims Unit.

As are all persons accused of a crime, the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.