Delaware State Police Press Releases

Winterthur Employee Charged in Felony Theft

Location: Henry Francis DuPont Winterthur Museum Inc., 5105 Kennett Pike, Winterthur, Delaware

Date and Time: Between 2004 and 2009

Suspect(s): Julian E. Leager, Jr., 54, of Old Linden Hill Road, Wilmington, Delaware

Resume: On October 6th, 2009, detectives from the Troop 2 Financial Crimes Unit were assigned to investigate an alleged internal theft involving a former Winterthur Museum employee.

The case first came to light when officials from the Henry Francis DuPont Winterthur Museum Inc. conducted a proactive internal audit. This audit yielded multiple suspicious purchases by company employee Julian Leager. Mr. Leager was entrusted with a company credit card, and, as the Facilities Group Supervisor, he was permitted to make certain purchases for the organization.

As company officials delved further into this fraud, it was learned that Leager was buying items for his personal use and had altered company records to cover his tracks. The total amount of loss was determined to be $128,381.00- over the five year period.

Armed with this information, Winterthur personnel presented their findings to DSP detectives. They also terminated Mr. Leager’s employment.

Last week, detectives executed a search warrant at Leager’s home. Recovered items included, but were not limited to, flat screen televisions, a digital camera, computer equipment and two ATV’s.

On Monday, November 16, 2009, Julian E. Leager, voluntarily turned himself in to investigators at Troop 2. He was formally charged with Theft over $100,000 (felony), six counts of Unlawful Use of a Credit Card (felony) and Falsifying Business Records (felony). Mr. Leager was released after posting a $16,500 secured bond.

Female Robber Strikes at Florist in the Omega Shopping Center

Location: Omega Flower and Gifts Shop, 4635 Stanton Ogletown Road, Newark, Delaware

Date of Occurrence: Monday, November 16, 2009, at 9:18 p.m.

Suspect(s): Black female, 30 – 40 years old, 5’06” tall, heavy build, wearing a hat, sunglasses and a dark sweat-suit, armed with a handgun

Resume: Shortly after 9:00 a.m. this morning, Troopers were dispatched to the Omega Flower and Gifts Shop for a robbery report.

In this case, the female suspect described above responded into the florists and approached the service counter. She displayed a handgun and demanded cash. The flower shop employee complied with the robber’s demands and the bandit fled the scene.

There is no surveillance video in this case.

Anyone with information pertaining to this case is asked to call investigators at 302-834-2630 ext. 6 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-TIP-3333.


Subject Charged with 8th DUI Offense

Location: Philadelphia Pike at Commonwealth Avenue, Claymont, Delaware

Date and Time: Monday, November 16, 2009, at 12:45 a.m.

Suspect(s): Gary Duchemin, 53, of Skipjack Lane in Claymont, Delaware

Resume: On Monday, November 16th, at 12:45 a.m., a Troop 1 patrol officer stopped a green Jeep Cherokee on Philadelphia Pike at Commonwealth Avenue, in Claymont, for a registration violation.

The driver was contacted and identified as Gary Duchemin. Several observations were made which led the officer to believe the operator may have been impaired and a DUI investigation ensued. At the completion of the field sobriety tests, Mr. Duchemin was arrested for DUI and transported back to Troop 1 for processing.

Once at the Troop, a routine computer check revealed Mr. Duchemin had seven previous convictions for DUI and this would be his 8th offense. He was subsequently charged with the following offenses: DUI After 4 Previous Convictions (felony), Operation of an unregistered Motor Vehicle, Fictitious Registration, Failure to have Insurance and Driving While Suspended.

Gary Duchemin was ordered held at the Howard Young Correctional Institute in lieu of $2,100.00 cash bail.


Subject Sought in 2008 Stalking Case Caught in Texas

Location of Original Incident: parking lot of 201 Possum Park Road, Newark, Delaware

Date and Time of Original Incident: September 15, 2008, at approximately 7:00 p.m.

Suspect(s): Christopher Fink, 26, formally of West Chester, Pennsylvania

Resume: For over a year now, investigators from the Delaware State Police have been looking for Christopher Fink for his part in a domestic assault incident.

It has been alleged that on September 15th of 2008, Fink responded to the parking lot of 201 Possum Park Road and hid in the trunk of his ex-girlfriend’s car.

At about 7:00 p.m., his then 22-year-old ex finished work and walked out to her car. She got into the driver’s seat and started the engine. All of the sudden, Fink leapt from the back of the car to the front and assault the female victim. He placed his arms around her neck and choked her. She tried to get out and he would not let her go. Fink threatened the female and forced her to drive away from the scene.

The victim drove down the street and stopped in the parking lot of the Pizza Hut on Capitol Trail and Delaplane Avenue. Fink then got out and fled the scene.

The victim advised this was an ongoing problem and that she was afraid of this subject.

Warrants were completed charging Fink with the following offenses: Stalking (felony), two counts of Criminal Contempt of a Domestic Violence PFA (felony), Unlawful Imprisonment (misdemeanor), Assault 3rd (misdemeanor), Terroristic Threatening (misdemeanor).

On November 10th, 2009, the investigating officer was conducting a routine computer inquiry for this case and learned that on October 30th, Fink was arrested by the Texas Highway Patrol for an unknown offense. He was processed as an out of state fugitive from Delaware and detained. On November 12th, Fink was returned to Delaware and formally charged with the aforementioned offenses. Bail was set at $34,760.00 cash and Christopher Fink was committed to the Howard Young Correctional Facility.