Church Bus Driver Admits to Decades of Child Abuse

CINCINNATI – The veneer of piety cracked today as Jory Leedy, 49, of Franklin, Ohio, admitted in federal court to years of sexually abusing vulnerable children. Leedy, who volunteered as a church bus driver, preyed upon at least two minor boys, some as young as seven and eight years old, using his position of trust to groom and abuse them.

The case, dating back to an April 2016 federal grand jury indictment, was slated for trial today but ended with Leedy’s guilty plea before U.S. District Judge Timothy S. Black. U.S. Attorney Benjamin C. Glassman, FBI Special Agent in Charge Todd A. Wickerham, Hamilton County Sheriff Jim Neil, and the Regional Electronics and Computer Investigations (RECI) Task Force jointly announced the conviction – a grim testament to a predator who skillfully concealed his depravity.

Court documents reveal a calculated pattern of manipulation. Leedy initially connected with the victims through a Dayton religious organization, driving them and their mother to services. He quickly escalated the relationship, ingratiating himself into the family’s life with gifts, dinners, and outings. The abuse wasn’t limited to quick encounters; Leedy financed a lifestyle of luxury for the victims, providing clothes, games, and even funding their education. He secured a car for the family, enrolled the boys in private school, and helped them relocate to a new home – all while systematically abusing them.

Leedy operated under a false name for years, his true identity only revealed during a domestic dispute that brought police to the family’s residence. Authorities discovered Leedy was a registered sex offender, shattering the illusion he’d carefully constructed. The subsequent investigation uncovered a horrifying scope of abuse, spanning two years and multiple states – Kentucky, Florida, and New York – all facilitated by Leedy’s calculated deception. He took the victims on trips to Disney World, religious concerts, Cincinnati Reds games, and Kings Island, masking his crimes behind a façade of generosity.

The depravity didn’t end with these victims. Leedy also confessed to sexually abusing a minor relative between 1999 and 2001, during trips to sporting events, further demonstrating a long-standing pattern of predatory behavior. The prosecution and defense have jointly recommended a 30-year prison sentence, a penalty Judge Black will consider at a future sentencing hearing. This plea isn’t just a conviction; it’s an admission of decades of betrayal and the shattering of innocent lives.

U.S. Attorney Glassman praised the relentless work of the FBI and Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office, as well as Assistant U.S. Attorneys Christy L. Muncy and Kenneth L. Parker, for bringing this predator to justice. The Grimy Times will continue to follow this case and report on the sentencing. This case serves as a chilling reminder of the dangers lurking behind seemingly benevolent facades and the importance of vigilance in protecting vulnerable children.