John Day man takes diversion deal in sex crimes case; co-defendant awaiting trial

Published 5:00 pm Friday, August 30, 2024

By BENNETT HALL
Blue Mountain Eagle

The Grant County Courthouse in Canyon City.

CANYON CITY — A Grant County man accused of sex crimes against a minor has entered a diversion agreement as part of a plea deal, while his co-defendant in the case is proceeding toward trial.

Timothy Christopher Leffner, 35, of John Day, pleaded guilty Friday, Aug. 30, in Grant County Circuit Court to one felony count of third-degree sodomy in connection with an Oct. 18 incident involving a boy under the age of 16, court records show.

In exchange, prosecutors agreed to drop one count each of third-degree sexual abuse and contributing to the sexual delinquency of a minor, both misdemeanors. 

The sodomy charge carried a maximum sentence of five years in prison. Under terms of the diversion agreement, that charge will be dismissed if Leffner upholds his side of the bargain.

Those terms require him to undergo psychosexual and sex offender evaluations and complete any recommended treatment programs. 

Leffner is also prohibited from having any contact with his co-defendant, the victim in the case or any underage boy.

Leffner was represented in court by defense attorney John B. Lamborn. 

The prosecution was handled by Grant County Deputy District Attorney Riccola Voigt and Oregon Assistant Attorney General Elijah Michalowski.

Judge Annette Hillman accepted Leffner’s plea and approved the diversion agreement, with the admonition that any violation of the agreement would cause the court to proceed with sentencing.

While Leffner was charged with three crimes in the case, his co-defendant, Christopher Lee Gibson of John Day, is facing a 62-count criminal indictment, all involving the same underage victim.

Gibson has yet to enter a plea in the case.

Kati Dunn, Gibson’s defense attorney, held a settlement conference on Aug. 27 with Voigt and Michalowski, but they were unable to reach a plea deal, court records show.

A plea hearing scheduled for Aug. 30 was canceled, and a 12-person jury trial was scheduled to begin on Nov. 12.

Gibson, 45, was arrested in early November. He was initially arraigned on a 30-count grand jury indictment in Grant County Circuit Court. On May 9, he was re-arraigned on an amended indictment with 32 additional charges.

Specifically, Gibson is charged with 18 counts of using a child in a display of sexually explicit conduct, 18 counts of encouraging child sexual abuse in the first degree, 12 counts of third-degree sexual abuse, eight counts of third-degree sodomy, two counts of luring a minor and one count each of first-degree sex abuse, harassment, online sexual corruption of a child and possession of materials depicting the sexually explicit conduct of a child.

 

In addition to sexually abusing the victim, prosecutors claim, Gibson captured and shared electronic images of the abuse. The alleged crimes are said to have occurred between August and October of last year.

 

Gibson is being held on $100,000 bail in the Grant County Jail.

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