Man Who Led Youth Ministries and Choirs Faces Child Indecency Charges Dating to the 1990s

Decades-Old Allegations Finally Lead to Arrest

On May 8, 2026, deputies were dispatched to the 18000 block of Cooper Road in Conroe, Texas, on a report of indecency with a child. When they arrived, three adult women came forward and disclosed allegations of sexual abuse spanning several years, dating back to the 1990s. What followed was a multi-state investigation that would ultimately bring a 65-year-old man back to Texas in handcuffs to face justice for alleged crimes committed more than three decades ago.

Leland Fleming, 65, was arrested and extradited to Montgomery County, Texas, on charges of indecency with a child after allegations surfaced involving his work with local religious ministries and youth groups. Officials said he had been living in Arkansas since 2019. His apparent effort to put distance between himself and his past did not prevent investigators from tracking him down.

Deep Ties to Youth Organizations

Detectives said the investigation determined Fleming, who had been involved in various religious ministries throughout the county, had also worked with children's choirs and homeschool groups during his time in the area. These are precisely the kinds of trusted, faith-based environments where adults are granted close, repeated access to children — and where families are least likely to suspect wrongdoing. The breadth of his involvement across multiple organizations is central to why authorities are now casting a wide net.

Fleming is charged with two counts of indecency with a child for incidents that spanned several years in the 1990s. On May 28, 2026, an arrest warrant was issued for indecency with a child. Investigators located Fleming in Madison County, Arkansas, where he was taken into custody with the assistance of local authorities. He was extradited back to Montgomery County on June 25 and is being held in the Montgomery County Jail without bond.

Authorities Believe There May Be More Victims

The sheriff's office said they believe there may be more victims due to his youth work. That concern is not unfounded. When someone spends years embedded in multiple youth-facing organizations — choirs, homeschool groups, religious ministries — the pool of potential victims can be far larger than what initially surfaces. It often takes one group of survivors coming forward to give others the courage to do the same.

Because of Fleming's reported involvement with youth-related organizations, the Sheriff's Office urged anyone with relevant information to contact the Montgomery County Sheriff's Office at 936-538-5900 and reference case number 26A156874. The call for tips is a critical step — investigators know that formal charges represent only what can currently be proven, and that the full picture of alleged abuse may be much larger.

What Comes Next

Fleming faces two counts of indecency with a child, and the case remains active. Holding him without bond signals that authorities view him as a flight risk — a reasonable concern given that he had already relocated out of state. The multi-state coordination required to bring him back to Texas reflects how seriously law enforcement is treating the allegations.

Cases like this one serve as a sobering reminder that predatory behavior within trusted community institutions can go unreported for years, even decades. The courage of the three women who came forward in May set this entire investigation in motion. As the case moves through the courts, investigators are counting on others who may have been affected to do the same — because in cases with roots this deep, silence is rarely the full story.