Leechburg police Chief Mike Diebold has been accused of soliciting sex from an undercover agent posing online as a 14-year-old girl.
Diebold was arrested and charged with unlawful contact with a minor and criminal attempt to commit involuntary deviate sexual intercourse, according to the state Attorney General’s Office.
Diebold, 40, of Forks Church Road, Gilpin, was arrested Friday after arranging to meet with the person he thought was a girl, according to a statement released by Attorney General Josh Shapiro.
He was picked up during a sting at the Lower Burrell Sheetz, according to Lower Burrell police Chief Tim Weitzel.
Agents of the Attorney General’s Child Predator Section took Diebold into custody at the meeting site without incident.
According to Shapiro, Diebold sent inappropriate pictures to the undercover agent prior to the meeting and solicited the agent for unlawful sexual contact.
“This case is particularly heinous because the perpetrator is a public official, sworn to serve and protect the community,” Shapiro said in the statement. “We have a zero- tolerance policy for the sexual abuse of children, and my office will prosecute any offender to the fullest extent of the law, no matter who they are.”
A Trib reporter present for his arraignment asked Diebold if he had any comment.
“Everything is not in the affidavit,” Diebold replied.
WHAT STATE AGENTS ALLEGE
According to Diebold’s affidavit, or arrest papers:
The investigation started Sept. 15, 2017, when Diebold placed an online advertisement that began, “Dominate (sic) male police officer seeks fun, discreet sub playmate.” He was seeking a partner of “any age, race or status.” He allegedly went by the user name “kutecop4you.”
An undercover agent with the state Attorney General’s Office responded, saying “on multiple occasions” that they were a 14-year-old girl in the eighth grade.
Authorities say Diebold was undeterred.
They say he responded with sexually explicit encouragement and requested to meet the girl, saying “we just need to meet.”
Diebold’s arrest papers next describe an incident that allegedly occurred Dec. 29. They say kutecop4you’s account included six photos that showed a man’s clothed, but highly suggestive, groin along with suggestive text.
With the last photo, the poster wrote: “Now it’s your turn.”
The AG’s agent wrote that he obtained subpoenas for the website and Verizon Wireless. Authorities say the sender’s information came back to Diebold, a relative and the Leechburg Police Department.
Posing as the girl, the AG’s agent asked to meet Diebold in person.
Then on Friday afternoon, shortly after 1 p.m., authorities say Diebold showed up at Sheetz, the prearranged meeting spot, and was arrested.
Authorities say in the interview that followed, “Diebold admitted to being the individual who was communicating with the purported child during all the communications.”
They say he acknowledged that the user name and profile picture, as well as communications with the purported girl, were his.
“Diebold admitted that he knew that sexual contact with a 14 year (old) child was wrong and illegal and that his life was totally over.”
They say that Diebold’s cellphone that he had when arrested included a message thread with the girl.
Authorities say Diebold “stated that he has been utilizing the internet to post ads in the personal sections for the last several years.”
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