The Region - News from Sept. 26, 1986

Los Angeles Police Officer William E. Leasure, 39, was charged by the Los Angeles County district attorney’s office with receiving stolen property in connection with three cars allegedly found at his Northridge home. Leasure, a 16-year LAPD veteran, already is in custody in Northern California as a suspect in a statewide yacht theft ring. The new charges were filed and bail set at $500,000 after a Contra Costa County judge lowered bail in the yacht case from $1 million to $10,000. In an affidavit, LAPD internal affairs officers accused Leasure of being involved in “extensive criminal activity for the past 10 years.” He was considered a threat to flee if released from jail because of alleged foreign bank accounts, two yachts and three airplanes. Leasure and co-defendant Robert D. Kuns of Newport Beach face preliminary hearing on the yacht theft charges Oct. 14 in Contra Costa County.