An undercover operation conducted by the Louisa County Sheriff’s Office has resulted in the arrests of three eastern Iowa men accused of attempting to communicate with someone they believed was a teenage girl.
The investigation, which lasted approximately three months, concluded with the arrests of Davenport resident Lee Allen Christenson, 64, and Fruitland residents Arlo Blu Harris, 54, and Keith Eugene Leopard, 58.
Christenson was arrested June 25 and faces charges of grooming a minor, distributing a controlled substance to a minor, possession of a controlled substance, and possession of drug paraphernalia. Investigators allege he repeatedly exchanged sexually explicit messages with an individual claiming to be 15 years old between March and June. Court records also accuse Christenson of mailing marijuana to the individual. He is scheduled to appear for arraignment in Louisa County on July 17.
Harris was taken into custody the following day and is charged with one count of grooming a minor, a Class D felony.
Leopard was also arrested on June 26. He is charged with grooming a minor and dissemination of obscene material to a minor, offenses that include a Class D felony and an aggravated misdemeanor.
According to investigators, both Harris and Leopard allegedly sent messages to a person they believed was 15 years old.
The Louisa County Sheriff’s Office worked alongside the Davenport Police Department, Muscatine Police Department, and the Muscatine County Sheriff’s Office during the investigation.
The case remains under investigation, and additional information may be released as it becomes available.
Source: Louisa County Sheriff’s Office and KCII Radio.
