Former Officer Pleads Guilty To Soliciting Sexual Favors
PITTSBURGH (KDKA) - A former Pittsburgh Police officer has pleaded guilty to charges that he tried to extort sexual favors from women in return for legal help.
Adam Skweres, a nine-year veteran, pleaded guilty Monday morning to several counts involving five women.
He was immediately handcuffed and taken to prison where he will serve 3 ½- to 8 years.
After that, he will be on probation for 10 years and will have to register as a sex offender.
Skweres did not comment or ask the judge for leniency, saying only, "Because I am, your honor," when Allegheny County Judge David Cashman asked why he was pleading guilty.
Last March, one of the victims, Sarah Smith, testified that she was driving with a suspended license in 2008 when she was involved in an automobile accident.
During her testimony, she said: "He [Adam Skweres] said paperwork can disappear and get lost. Pretty young thing like you can do a lot for a guy like me. It would take 20 to 30 minutes of your time."
She continued, "He said what I do to you won't be as bad as what they'll do to you in prison. You say anything you'll never walk or breathe again."
Two of the other alleged victims offered similar testimony.
After those charges, a fifth woman came forward and accused Skweres of ordering her to strip naked and perform sexual favors to get out of having to testify against her boyfriend, who was facing charges in a bar fight.
Only one of the victims attended the guilty plea, which was hastily arranged after Skweres decided not to stand trial, and she declined to comment outside the courtroom.
Skweres is concerned about his safety - as a former police officer - and may choose to serve his sentence in solitary confinement if he believes he's at risk of being attacked by other inmates, DiLucente said.
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