Thursday, November 12, 2015

Wanted Registered Sex Offender Arrested In California

Dustin Leatherman, 32
MCSO Photo: April 2015

Convicted Sex Offender Arrested In California On Mesa County Warrant

Mesa County, Colo. -- Dustin Shane Leatherman, 32, registered as a sex offender with our agency in April 2015 and then missed his September required registration. By missing the recent reporting, he became noncompliant with the stipulations on him because of two felony convictions, attempted sex assault on a child and failure to register as a sex offender. As a result, a warrant was issued for his arrest.

Dustin was located in Southern California on November 11, arrested on the warrant charging him with failure to register as a sex offender and failure to register an address, both are felony charges. He was booked into the Orange County Sheriff's Department Detention Facility, yesterday. He is being held on $100,000.00 bond and is scheduled to appear in court on November 13, 2015. There is currently no information available about extraditing him back to Mesa County.

Nationwide tips about noncompliant registered sex offenders can be submitted to Parents for Megan's Law and Crime Victims Center, who distribute those tips to the appropriate law enforcement agency for investigation. For Mesa County residents to stay informed of registered sex offenders who move or live in our area, register your home address with this website and view current registered offenders.

Special Note: Most sexual assaults perpetrated against both adults and children are committed by someone the victim knows or is familiar with. A stranger does not pose the highest risk to you or your children.

C.R.S. 16-22-112(1) prohibits sex offender registry information to be used to inflict retribution or additional punishment upon the registrant. Vigilantism is illegal and will be charged. Any suspicious behavior, activity or criminal actions suspected or witnessed regarding registered sex offenders should be reported to 911.

The state sex offender registry includes only those persons who have been convicted of certain acts of unlawful sexual behavior since July 1, 1991, and who are in compliance with the sex offender registry as a safeguard against perpetrators of sexual assault on their communities. The crime for which a person is convicted may not accurately reflect the level of risk.

If you have questions about registered offenders with the following local agencies, please do not hesitate to contact the appropriate agency registrar listed below.
  • Mesa County Sheriff's Office, 244-3206
  • Grand Junction Police Department, 549-5234
  • Palisade Police Department, 464-5601
  • Fruita Police Department, 858-8003