Teen Sex Offenders Considered Risks

Two teenage sex offenders living in Spokane pose a risk to the community, police said Thursday.

Micah Steward, 17, was convicted of two counts of first-degree child molestation involving 2- and 6-year-old girls.

He was released in February of last year, and since has been arrested five times for parole violations, Detective Jerry Keller said. His latest violation was in July for being around young children.

Steward also has been convicted of theft, arson and first-degree child rape involving a 6-year-old boy.

Keller said Steward often offers to baby-sit children so he can gain their trust and then abuse them.

Steward recently moved in with his mother on the 1600 block of East Wellesley. Police on Thursday notified more than 150 nearby residents of their new neighbor’s past, handing out fliers showing Steward’s photograph.

“He moves around quite a bit,” Keller said. “He’ll stay in one place for a while and then leave.”

Steward is not to have unsupervised contact with children 2 or younger and must avoid drugs and alcohol. He is not permitted to carry a deadly weapon or have pornography.

Another teenage offender, Rocky W. Leffler, 19, was convicted in 1991 of indecent liberties for forcing two boys, 5 and 7, to perform oral sex on each other.

He also has convictions for intimidation with a weapon and assault.

Leffler was released from jail in February and lived at the Union Gospel Mission on East Trent for several months, police said. He since has left the mission and has not reported a new address, Detective Jerry Poindexter said.

“We don’t know where he is now,” Poindexter said. He has requested a warrant for Leffler’s arrest for not keeping authorities informed of his whereabouts.

Conditions of Leffler’s release are that he must stay in Spokane County and avoid alcohol or drugs. He also cannot carry a firearm or other deadly weapon.

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