Man raped woman after meeting on dating app

A state correctional officer met a woman on a dating app, was invited to her home, and then allegedly strangled and raped her, the Saratoga County Sheriff's Office said.

Christopher Bradt, 27, of Glenville, was arrested for first-degree rape and second-degree strangulation, both felonies. The woman, who survived the encounter, said the incident happened on June 23 in Halfmoon.

Bradt is a correctional officer at Greene Correctional Institution who was suspended without pay on Dec. 30, when he was arraigned on charges of rape and strangulation, according to the State Department of Corrections and Community Oversight.

The case is one of at least three rape cases in the county involving people meeting on various dating apps, said Captain Jeff Brown of the Sheriff's Office.

"We've had so much with dating apps," he said.

In the present case, Bradt was arraigned in Halfmoon City Court and released on his own recognizance until his next court date. He hired lawyer Paul DerOhannesian to represent him.

"We are confident that upon a full and fair presentation of the facts and context of this relationship, Christopher Bradt will be cleared of any criminal misconduct," said DerOhannesian.

The victim, whose name the Times Union remembers, received a protection order when Bradt was arrested, but said she was afraid to know he was free and a correctional officer, which she did not know before the arraignment.

"How even more afraid am I knowing that he's been trained to detain people, to keep people down," she said. "He really could've killed me. And he's been released and he knows where I live."

Brown urged those who use dating apps to exercise caution when meeting strangers in public places.

"We have had cases where the first meeting took place in a private place." noted. "My suggestion would be: until they feel comfortable, meet in public places."