Former SCC Guard Rejects Plea-Bargin

The former Sierra Conservation Center prison guard already convicted on federal child-pornography charges Tuesday rejected a plea-bargain offer in his Calaveras County child-molestation case.

Neil Alden Leash ll, 47, is charged with 95 sex crimes involving three girls, was expected to plead guilty to four of those 95 counts Tuesday, but Leash´s attorney, Public Defender LeRoy Falk, said his client would not accept the deal.

In exchange for his guilty pleas, Leash was to receive a sentence of 25 years to life in prison.

Deputy district attorney prosecuting the case, Daniel McConnell, says his office would entertain “any reasonable offer” from Leash. He says his office hopes to resolve the case without going to trial to spare the alleged victims from having to testify in court.

Leash is being held in the county jail in lieu of $1 million bail.