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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Alleged Cameraman Of Sex Ring Arrested

From Staff And Wire Reports

A man accused of having sex with children and videotaping other adults doing the same was arrested in Arizona thanks to tips from a former friend and the television show “America’s Most Wanted,” police said Friday.

Lawrence “Leo” Catcheway, 47, of Wenatchee, was arrested Thursday for investigation of 13 counts of first-degree child rape and four counts of first-degree child molestation.

One of Catcheway’s former friends, Don Frakes, gave “America’s Most Wanted” the name and address of a former Wenatchee man, David Bunch, who now lives in San Diego. When the show’s producer, Virginia Williams, called the Bunch home, she spoke to Colleen, David’s wife, who knew where Catcheway was staying, said Wenatchee Police Sgt. Cherie Smith.

Williams passed the information on to Wenatchee police, which by Thursday afternoon had pinpointed Catcheway’s location, on the Navajo Indian Reservation in Arizona, about 25 miles west of Gallup, N.M.

The allegations against Catcheway involve five Wenatchee children between the ages of 5 and 13. The children told investigators they were often forced to have sex with Catcheway and other adults in local homes, on camping trips and in Catcheway’s truck.

The children also described Catcheway as the cameraman of the sex group, which involved several adults who have already pleaded guilty to multiple counts of child rape.

Twenty-three other adults have been charged since last fall with participating in what authorities describe as two loosely organized sex rings in operation since 1988.

Twelve of the cases have resulted in guilty pleas or convictions - on charges including child rape, incest and molestation of a child. One case was dismissed and 10 are pending.