Detectives Arrest 80-Year-Old Missouri Felon in Sarasota

                                                                                                               NEWS RELEASE #: 17-002 - JANUARY 5, 2017

The Sarasota County Sheriff's Office arrested an 80-year-old convicted felon from Missouri after detectives found a firearm and ammunition in his car.

Deputies responded to the report of a vehicle crash in the 6000 block of Clark Road Tuesday evening just after 9:30 p.m. According to the caller, the suspect was standing outside his home next to a vehicle covered in blood. When deputies arrived, they made contact with 80-year-old Leslie Achter who claimed he was a passenger in the car and that the driver had fled the scene after hitting a deer. Due to the massive amount of blood, forensics personnel responded however, confirmed the blood was not from an animal.

While Achter was being transported to the hospital due to the wound on his forearm, a firearm cylinder pin fell out of his pocket. Detectives interviewed Achter who admitted to traveling to Florida from Missouri where he was recently released from prison. Achter then directed detectives to a disassembled revolver with a missing serial number as well as ammunition, inside his car.

Achter, DOB 01/03/37, is charged with Possession of a Weapon by a Convicted Felon and Possession of an Altered Firearm. He remains in custody on $8,000 bond. A brief look into Achter's criminal history revealed past convictions for Manslaughter, Aggravated Stalking and Escape.
Leslie Achter_01052017