Judge rules former Leechburg police chief Diebold must remain in jail during pandemic

Michael Diebold, the former Leechburg police chief, will remain in jail as he awaits a hearing to determine if he violated parole terms for a sex offense, a Westmoreland County judge ruled.

Diebold contended ongoing serious health problems put him at risk should he contract coronavirus and sought an early release from jail, where he has been held without bond since December.

Common Pleas Court Judge Meagan Bilik-DeFazio, in a ruling made public on Monday, rejected Diebold’s request filed late last week. The judge’s ruling came without a hearing.

Bilik-DeFazio cited the pending parole revocation as well as two additional charges filed this year claiming Diebold failed to provide accurate registration information to police, a requirement under the state’s Megan’s Law for sex offenders.

“For all of these reasons, this court finds that the defendant is a danger to the community and is not currently amenable to parole supervising…,” Bilik-DeFazio wrote.

Diebold, 42, pleaded guilty in December 2018 and was sentenced to serve nine to 23 months in jail and three years on probation for charges he attempted to solicit sex from a minor through the internet.

Police said Diebold communicated with an undercover agent who posed as a 14-year-old girl. He was arrested as part of a sting operation by the state Attorney General’s Office. He was paroled in January 2019 but again jailed in December after prosecutors said he violated his parole when he allegedly solicited women using an online social media app catering to sexual fetishes. Those charges were filed in Armstrong County.

In addition to the parole revocation case, Diebold also is awaiting trial on the pending charges in Armstrong County.

Defense attorney Duke George in court documents said Diebold is able to post $50,000 bond in Armstrong County but is being held at the Westmoreland County jail without bond for the pending parole violation accusation.

George said Diebold suffers from a truncated liver, severe nerve damage due to traumatic loss of his lower left arm, high blood pressure and cholesterol and post traumatic stress disorder. Diebold lost a portion of his arm when a mortar misfired as he attempted to ignite fireworks at the Leechburg Fire Company annual carnival in July 2017.