A convicted sex offender from Oregon is now facing charges in Florida after allegedly orchestrating a murder-for-hire plot from behind bars.
According to an affidavit obtained by KOIN 6 News, Leland Harper, who is currently incarcerated in Florida, devised the scheme with the intent of eliminating a minor he previously sexually abused and the victim’s family. Prosecutors believe Harper hoped that the deaths would lead to the dismissal of his Oregon sex abuse conviction.
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The affidavit reveals that Harper’s alleged plot originated while he was awaiting trial in a Florida jail. A Sarasota County deputy reportedly learned of the threat against the victim and her family in February. Authorities say Harper was openly discussing his plan with an informant.
The case has its roots in Portland, Oregon, where Harper was initially indicted on 59 sex abuse charges in January 2021. He was later extradited back to Oregon in October of the same year to face those charges.
Evidence presented during his Oregon case showed that Harper, who had been residing in Portugal, actively attempted to evade extradition to the United States, even considering a move to Montenegro.
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In 2023, Harper was found guilty on all sex crime charges, as well as an additional 14 counts of bribery and witness tampering. He was subsequently sentenced to 25 years in prison in Oregon in January 2024.
Chuck Mickley, the lead prosecutor in the Oregon case, noted that the victim had disclosed instances of abuse occurring in Florida. This information was shared with Florida officials, who ultimately decided to pursue charges against Harper for the abuse committed in their state following his Oregon conviction.
Adding to his legal woes, Harper is currently attempting to appeal his Oregon conviction and is also facing a multi-million-dollar civil lawsuit related to the sex abuse case.
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The alleged murder-for-hire plot took a significant step in March when Harper’s wife reportedly wired just under $30,000 to an account established for the investigation. It was this week that formal charges of solicitation to commit premeditated murder were filed against Harper.
“He’s made efforts all throughout the process to try to avoid the consequences of his criminal actions,” Mickley told KOIN 6 News. “And so this isn’t necessarily surprising that he is going through a lot of additional steps to try to get out from the trouble that he’s caused himself by committing these crimes.”
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