Leighty initiated an Internet chat, which quickly became sexual in nature. Among other things, Leighty asked about the girl’s sexual experience and offered to buy her something in exchange for a sexual favor.

Leighty later told the “girl” he wanted to meet her at a location in Platte County to engage in sex. At 3:40 p.m. that day, Leighty arrived at an undercover location where he was stopped by Platte County detectives and arrested.

Leighty had been an officer with the Warrensburg Police Department. He had resigned from the department several years prior to the 2005 crime.

Platte County Sheriff Richard Anderson said, “As someone who has been a member of law enforcement for more than 40 years, I am always disappointed when a police officer or former officer violates the public trust. Fortunately, other very honorable members of law enforcement stood in the way of this man’s attempt to sexually abuse a child.”

Zahnd said Leighty pleaded guilty without any agreement from the State. He faces up to seven years in prison on the child enticement charge and four years on the attempted statutory sodomy charge. He is scheduled to be sentenced on May 15 at 10:30 a.m.

The case was investigated by the Platte County Sheriff’s Department Cyber Crime’s Unit with the assistance of the Lee’s Summit Police Department.
It is being prosecuted by Assistant Prosecutor Robin Threlkeld.

Eric G. Zahnd
Platte County Prosecuting Attorney
415 Third Street - Suite 60
Platte City, Missouri 64079

(816) 858-3476
(816) 858-3472 (fax)
ezahnd@co.platte.mo.us