Pittsburgh Tribune Review
LEECHBURG, Pa. — A Gilpin Township man is in the Armstrong County Jail, charged with planning to murder Leechburg Police Chief Mike Diebold.
Don Lewis Stegnar, 49 of 117 Ray Road, faces two counts of terroristic threats and one count of retaliation for a past police action. He’s in the county jail in lieu of $50,000 bond following his arraignment before Leechburg District Judge James Andring.
According to the affidavit of probable cause, Stegnar was receiving treatment at the Armstrong Primary Care Center in Leechburg Tuesday afternoon when he allegedly told doctors he “would kill that (expletive) Chief Diebold.”
Stegnar allegedly went on to say he had purchased a high-power, sniper-like rifle and planned to shoot Diebold during deer hunting season because “that is always the best time for an accidental shooting.” The doctors told Leechburg police Stegnar said he held a grudge against Diebold because the chief arrested him in 2006 for driving under the influence.
Doctors called Armstrong Emergency Management after Stegnar left the clinic.
Also, at the time of the threat, Stegnar was free on bond stemming from an August 4 incident when he allegedly fired a gunshot at a woman at his Gilpin residence.
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