THOMASTON - Anthony Leo, who had been placed on unpaid administrative leave in October 2023 as the chief of the Fire and Emergency Medical Services departments in Thomaston pending an investigation of a sexual abuse case involving a teen, and was reinstated by the town of Thomaston Nov. 7, has submitted his letter of resignation.  

Leo resigned from his position during an Executive Session of the Thomaston Select Board and town manager Nov. 13.

Town Manager Kara George issued the following statement Nov. 14:  

“Fire/EMS Chief Anthony Leo submitted his letter of resignation as of November 13, 2024 to the Thomaston Selectboard during an Executive Session meeting. The Select Board expressed its gratitude to Chief Leo for his more than 30 years of dedicated public safety service to the community and extended its best wishes for his future endeavors. The board plans to initiate the search for a new Fire/EMS Chief promptly.”

Leo sent a letter to the members of the Fire and Emergency Medical Services departments following his resignation at the executive session and then shared it on his personal Facebook page for his family and friends. (used with permission)

“Good afternoon. After much prayers and thoughts, both with my family and friends, I've come to one of the hardest decisions I've ever had to make in my life. In the best interest of the Fire and Ambulance Service as well as the townspeople, I've decided that as of 1800hrs tonight, I will be stepping down from my Chiefs Position with both departments. The Love I have for both the town and the departments has made me rethink coming back. You all do such a fantastic job that I don't want the bad cloud over your heads. The town needs to feel safe and secure with their Fire and EMS departments, and at this point in time, they don't, and I can't have that. I made it clear to the Selectboard that if I've lost the trust of the townspeople, I would walk away, and as much as it hurts, that's what I need to do. I absolutely appreciate all the support you have all given me over the last few years, and I'll truly treasure all the memories. Please know, this didn't come easy, and I hope and pray you all continue to get on that truck and take care of our townspeople the way you'd want your families taken care of. From the bottom of my heart, Thank you for being the best crew to lead. My phone is always on, and my fire pit always has wood. I may not be here anymore, but I'm always there if you need me. Take care, and don't be strangers. I love you all. Thank you for making my job as Chief, easy.”

The victim, who was 14 when the offense occurred in 2003, notified police 20 years after the incident in the summer of 2023.

On October 31, the state and defense agreed to a plea deal on a single count of sexual abuse of a minor before Justice Jeffrey Hjelm in Knox County Court. Under the plea deal, Leo will be on a deferred disposition for two years and the charges of gross sexual assault and unlawful sexual contact were dismissed as part of the agreement.

A deferred disposition is a court-ordered postponement of sentencing after a defendant pleads guilty to a crime. The defendant must agree to a set of conditions and if the conditions are met during a specified period of time, the charges may be dismissed or reduced. If the defendant fails to meet the conditions, they will be convicted and sentenced.

The stipulations of the Oct. 31 agreement include that Leo must undergo sex offender counseling and have no contact with females younger than 18 unless supervised as part of his employment. If Leo does not follow the terms of the agreement, then he will undergo an open plea to sexual abuse of a minor and could end up serving a jail sentence.

The Thomaston Town Manager Kara George issued a statement Nov. 7 on behalf of the town when the decision was made to reinstate Leo.

“Tony Leo joined the Town of Thomaston Fire & EMS Department in 1993, carrying forward a family legacy in firefighting. Even as a child, Tony was a frequent visitor to the station, spending countless hours alongside his father, Fire Chief Mike Leo. Growing up in this environment, firefighting truly became a part of who he is. In August 2023, Tony took on the role of Thomaston EMS Chief and quickly made a positive impact. His forward-thinking ideas for sustainability, commitment to increasing Fire and EMS training attendance, and efforts to boost morale showcased his deep dedication to the department and the community he serves.

"In October 2023, Tony was placed on unpaid administrative leave pending an investigation related to an alleged case from over 20 years ago. A year later, the case was adjudicated. With support from the Select Board, the Town Manager, Fire and EMS personnel, and community members, the Town of Thomaston has reinstated Tony as the Fire and EMS Chief. The town’s leadership and community continue to have full confidence in Tony's ability to lead the department and oversee future developments.”

Reach Sarah Shepherd at news@penbaypilot.com