A 17-year-old girl told investigators she was impregnated by a Weld County sheriff’s deputy who has been charged with sexually assaulting her.
Landon Greatheart, 32, is being held at the Weld County jail on a $50,000 bond for allegedly molesting the girl, Weld County Undersheriff Margie Martinez said.
The girl recently learned that she was pregnant, Martinez said.
Weld County authorities have placed Greatheart in protective custody at the jail, Martinez said.
Greatheart was placed in protective custody because of the nature of his alleged crime and his position, Martinez said.
“Certainly there could be people in jail that he arrested,” she said.
Greatheart and two women living with him had agreed to act as guardians for the girl in July, Martinez said. The girl was at the home for three weeks that month, she said.
“A consensual relationship developed between the victim and Greatheart while Greatheart was in a position of trust,” according to Sheriff John Cooke.
The child has since returned to live with her mother, Martinez said.
Cooke learned of the incidents from an employee last week. Greatheart was placed on administrative leave without pay, Martinez said.
“If there were improprieties we wanted to deal with them quickly,” Martinez said.
Sheriff’s investigators worked through the weekend on the case, she said.
Investigators found evidence that Greatheart sent obscene photographs of himself with his phone, Martinez said.
The Weld County District Attorney’s Office will decide whether to file formal charges, she said.
Greatheart has been employed by the sheriff’s office since July 2003. He could be charged with sexual assault on a child by one in a position of trust and an obscenity charge.
Kirk Mitchell: 303-954-1206 or kmitchell@denverpost.com
