Leon Gene Warner

WARSAW — Leon Gene Warner, 53, 558 Circle Drive, Warsaw, was arrested, Wednesday, June 22, on a level 4 felony of child molesting.

On June 20, Kosciusko County Sheriff’s Officer James Smith responded to a subject threatening to commit suicide with a handgun.

When Smith went to the residence the door was answered by Warner, who told Smith he had a loaded gun in the bedroom. Warner told the officers he had the gun in his hand when he heard them knocking, but left it in the bedroom before answering the door.

According to the affidavit of probable cause, Warner stated he wished he’d had the guts to pull the trigger when he had the chance. Smith asked Warner why he wanted to kill himself and Warner replied that he had done something bad and didn’t want his family to be disappointed in him.

He admitted to the officer he had touched a juvenile family member in an inappropriate manner a couple of nights ago. Warner further admitted, he had seen the minor laying on the sofa sleeping and placed his hands in the child’s underwear. When the child woke up Warner said he was sorry.

Officers obtained the black, loaded, semi-automatic handgun, which Warner identified as the one he was going to use to commit suicide.

Kosciusko County Sheriff’s Officer J.D. Ayres, contacted Child Protection Services. The minor told CPS what Warner had done.

Warner is being held on a $25,250 surety and cash bond.