Ex-Leechburg police chief back in jail, attorney says

Former Leechburg police Chief Mike Diebold is back in jail on a suspected probation violation, his attorney said Friday night.

Diebold, 42, was booked into the Westmoreland County Prison on a 72-hour hold Friday, according to his attorney, Duke George.

George, who plans to visit Diebold at the Hempfield lockup Saturday or Sunday, said he has no knowledge of the specific allegation against Diebold or what he might have done to violate his probation.

Diebold was taken into custody after a visit with his probation officer, George said.

“Obviously, it’s a probation violation, because his probation officer put him in the hold,” George said by phone Friday night.

A hearing likely will be scheduled Monday morning to discuss whether Diebold violated any terms of his probation, George said.

Court records late Friday did not indicate any new charges against Diebold.

In January, Diebold was released from jail after a Westmoreland County judge sentenced him to nine to 23 months followed by three years of probation for attempting to solicit underage sex via the internet. He actually was communicating with an undercover agent posing as a 14-year-old girl.

Diebold was arrested in January 2018 by agents from the Pennsylvania Attorney General’s Office in a child predator sting in Lower Burrell and pleaded guilty in December 2018. He was required to register under Megan’s Law as a sex offender.

At his sentencing hearing, the judge barred Diebold from using social media and the internet, unless he must do so for work. He also is prohibited from having unsupervised contact with anyone under 18.

Diebold’s arrest came six months after a fireworks accident blew off part of his left arm on July 24, 2017. He had tried to return to duty as a police officer with an artificial arm.

Diebold earned more than $50,000 a year as police chief and was immediately suspended without pay and benefits following his arrest.

Shortly after Diebold was released Jan. 27, his attorney George said Diebold did everything he was supposed to while in jail.

“He paid his debt and now he gets to get on with his life,” George said at the time.