Local fire chief facing child sex abuse charges

PITTSBURGH — The chief of Rainbow Volunteer Fire Company in White Oak was arrested Friday following an investigation into child sexual abuse allegations, according to the criminal complaint.

Sean Leffard, 35, of White Oak, is facing several charges, including six counts of involuntary deviate sexual intercourse, statutory sexual assault and corruption of a minor.

The arrest was made following an investigation of child sexual abuse allegations made by a teenage boy, who said the abuse started when he was 12 years old when he began to do work at the fire station.

The victim said the abuse first happened when he was sleeping in the attic of Leffard’s residence and woke up to Leffard inappropriately touching him. The boy said Leffard even moved his bedroom into the attic and removed the door so it couldn’t be locked.

According to the criminal complaint, the boy’s mother told police that Leffard moved in with the family for a period of time after her husband suffered a stroke, to help take care of her children.

The boy told police Leffard sent him gifts over the years and believes it was to “keep him quiet about the sexual abuse,” the complaint read. The gifts included a fishing boat and ATV.

According to the criminal complaint, the victim’s mother at one point noticed Leffard getting close to her son – giving him massages – and told Leffard one time to “stop groping her son.”

The alleged abuse took place over a span of four years in Allegheny, Erie and Armstrong counties, along with West Virginia.

The following statement was released Monday by Leffard’s attorney:

"The charges made against Sean Leffard are shocking. Chief Leffard is innocent. Before rushing to judgment, it must be remembered that the mere filing of charges is not evidence of anything. There is an alternative side to these allegations yet to be heard, but that side will be shared in future court proceedings."

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Cox Media Group