KANSAS CITY, MO (KCTV) -
A man accused of molesting a little girl also had a job working with families for years, leaving people wondering if there could be more alleged victims.
The details of the crimes being alleged in the case are saddening and sickening and now at least some of the man's co-workers are asking if other families could come forward with similar allegations.
Leonard G. Durant, 63, sits in the Jackson County Jail, facing four counts of first-degree statutory sodomy charges. The alleged victim is an acquaintance Durant sometimes had unlimited access to, according to court records. The girl was 4 years old.
What prompted emails to the KCTV5 newsroom about the case is what Durant does for a living. For at least the last 10 years, he's been an outreach worker for Swope Health Services. According to Swope Communications Manager Dan Barnett, Durant was responsible for "hooking up homeless individuals with services."
Barnett described Durant as a "good employee" and said he was "well-loved by the population he served."
Barnett went on to say he and others who worked with Durant are surprised by the serious nature of the criminal charges.
Durant molested the 4-year-old girl while the victim was at his home, according to court records.
According to court records, the charges came after the victim herself started complaining of pain in her genital area. The girl's mother took her to Children's Mercy Hospital and soon the 4-year-old was detailing the chilling alleged sexual abuse through her own words.
The incident came to light after the victim's parent went to police in September 2011.
Prosecutors requested a bond of $250,000 for Durant.
When news of the allegations surfaced co-workers started questioning whether Durant's job, which included working with the homeless, exposed some of the most vulnerable people in society to a now-accused predator.
One co-worker wrote, "We are hoping there is no more children."
KCTV5's Jeanene Kiesling called Jackson County Prosecutor Jean Peters Baker's office and asked if they are actively looking into the possibility of other victims. Kiesling was told only if people come forward will their claims will be looked into.
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