Mike Diebold, the police chief of Leechburg, PA, is behind bars this weekend after he was arrested and charged on Friday for setting up a sexual encounter with an online user he thought was a 14–year–old girl. As it turned out, his target actually was a fellow cop.
PA Attorney General Josh Shapiro called the case “particularly heinous” because it was committed by someone who had “sworn to serve and protect the community,” according to a statement published by the newspaper.
Diebold was arrested at a local convenience store where he had planned to meet the fictional teenager, who he had chatted with on KIK. His bond was set at $500,000, and a preliminary hearing was set for Jan. 16.
According to WPXI News, the police chief, who became well–known in the area after he lost an arm in a fireworks accident, had been chatting with the undercover officer since last September using the profile name “Kutecop4you.” He described himself as a “dominate male officer” who “seeks fun, discreet, sub playmate.”
The agent allegedly told Diebold several times he was chatting with a minor, but the police chief set up the meeting anyway after also sending what the news station said were “inappropriate images” and continuously “asking for sex.”
In a statement to police, Diebold admitted knowing that sexual contact with a 14–year–old was illegal, and he said his “life is totally over.”
Leechburg Mayor Wayne Dobos told the Post-Gazette he is “just as shocked as everyone else.”
Diebold managed a department with two full–time officers and 15 part–time officers, located about 35 miles northeast of Pittsburgh.
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