LEICESTER- Sheriff Thomas J. Dougherty reports the arrest of a Leicester NY resident on felony charges following an investigation by the Sheriff’s Office.
On December 23, 2020 at approximately 4:20 pm Sheriff’s
Deputies responded to the Leicester Fire Department for the report of a
suspicious letter that had been sent to an employer on behalf of the Fire Department.
The letter informed the employer that an employee was the victim of a house
fire and that the home on Gibsonville Road in Leicester was a “total loss”. It
was represented to be signed by the Leicester Fire Chief. The Fire Department
had no record of a fire at the location and the Fire Chief advised that he did
not send the letter.
The victim of the fire was purported to be 48-year-old
Deanna L. Leach of Leicester. Further investigation with the employer revealed
that Leach had in fact reported that she had lost her home and belongings in a
fire, and even provided details to her employer regarding the cause of the
fire. Leach provided a list of items that she needed replaced and also
attempted to gain financial assistance because it was Christmas time. Leach continued
her fraudulent story by claiming that the Red Cross and Social Services were
assisting her and her family.
The investigation further alleges that Leach admitted to
Sheriff’s Investigators that she lied about the fire and created the letter
herself, as well as admitted that she created the false claim and letter in an
attempt to gain financial assistance.
On January 15, 2021 Deputy Ryan Bulter arrested and charged
Leach with felony Forgery in the Second Degree, felony Criminal Possession of a
Forged Instrument in the Second Degree and Criminal Impersonation in the Second
Degree.
Leach was turned over to Central Booking Deputies at the
Livingston County Jail for processing and prearrangement detention as the
offenses did qualify for pre-arraignment detention under the NYS Justice Reform
Act. The District Attorney’s Office was contacted in regards to bail due to the
felony level charges. It was advised that Leach be held without the chance of
bail due to her having four previous felony convictions. Leach was arraigned at
the Livingston County Centralized Arraignment Part (LC-CAP) at the Livingston
County Jail before Town of Groveland Justice Love. The Judge did remand Leach
to the custody of the Sheriff without bail.
Assisting with the investigation was Sheriff's Investigator Matthew Orman of the Criminal Investigations Division
