A former police officer from the White Mountain Apache Tribe, Karl Eugene Leslie, age 42, has been indicted on multiple charges related to sexual abuse and kidnapping occurring during his tenure. According to FOX 10 Phoenix, the 15 federal counts include aggravated sexual abuse, kidnapping, sexual abuse through fear and coercion, and deprivation of rights under the color of law. The abuses, addressed in the indictment, are said to have taken place between December 1, 2020, and September 25, 2023, involving members of the White Mountain Apache Tribe.
The former officer, who served with the department from April 2007 through June 2024, is accused of targeting women and men on the Fort Apache Indian Reservation, with allegations suggesting that Leslie raped and kidnapped two of the victims, while another was sexually abused through threats and coercion. Leslie's alleged misdeeds come as an alarming breach of trust within the tribal community. As 12 News reports, one of the victims engaged in these unlawful acts was a minor.
In a statement obtained by FOX 10 Phoenix, Dhanielle DeClay, a former co-worker of Leslie at the White Mountain Apache Police Department, expressed her dismay over the situation. "This is really shocking to learn about him and it's unfortunate," she said. "Because the community, they put a lot of trust in our officers. And when something like this happens, it really destroys that trust." DeClay, who worked alongside Leslie and even attended the same middle school, emphasized the broader implications on community trust.
Investigators believe that the incriminated ex-officer may have more victims who have not yet come forward. The FBI's Phoenix Field Office has encouraged anyone with information to contact them or submit details through their victim information page. Heith Janke, Special Agent in Charge at FBI Phoenix, reinforced this sentiment: "My message to those victims or to those who know of other victims: please come forward and report your information to the FBI," he said per a FOX 10 Phoenix interview.
Leslie's indictment and arrest disquiet the notion of trust between law enforcement officers and the community they serve, prompting serious considerations about the mechanisms of accountability and protection within tribal police structures. If convicted on all charges, Leslie could face life imprisonment and a fine of up to $250,000, with kidnapping a victim under 18 carrying a mandatory minimum sentence of 20 years, as reported by 12 News.
