Saratoga County cop admits sexually abusing women while on job

SARATOGA -- A Saratoga County sheriff's deputy has pleaded guilty to menacing, official misconduct and sexual abuse for sexually abusing four women while on duty, the Saratoga County District Attorney's Office announced Thursday. 

Deputy Donald Harder III will go to jail and resign his position when he is sentenced May 13, the DA's office said.

Harder, 29, had sexual contact with four separate woman from June 2009 through Aug. 11, 2009, said DA James Murphy. Additionally, on Aug. 11, he made sexual demands that caused his victim to fear physical injury if she did not comply. He was wearing his deputy sheriff's uniform and his service weapon at the time. 

Harder will be sentenced to six months in jail, five years of probationary supervision, complete barring orders of protection from the four victims, a resignation from the Sheriff's Department, and statutory fines and surcharges.

He will also be required to submit his DNA to the DNA convicted offender databank maintained by the Division of Criminal Justice Services, said Murphy.

Harder had been on the force for three years and was generally assigned to the northern part of Saratoga County including Edinburgh, Day and Hadley. He was immediately suspended from the department upon his arrest Aug. 11, 2009.