No Charges Filed Against Walmart Toe Sucker

JULY 30--A registered sex offender/foot fetishist who this month tricked a teenager into allowing him to suck her toe inside a Walmart in Georgia will not be charged in connection with the icky encounter.

Investigators with the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office have concluded that a possible battery case against Joey Leaphart, 43, was “unfounded,” according to Captain Steve Morris. The creepy Leaphart, pictured at right, escaped arrest because he “made physical content” with the “consent” of victim Jessica Finley, added Morris.

After reviewing the incident, prosecutors decided “they did not want to prosecute for the sucking,” according to a case summary prepared by sheriff’s investigators.

According to a sheriff’s report, Finley, 18, was shopping July 10 when Leaphart approached her claiming to be a representative of the “America’s Funniest Home Videos” TV show. Finley told deputies that Leaphart offered to pay for her purchases (up to $100) if she agreed to cooperate with a “prank.”

Finley, who reluctantly agreed to let Leaphart photograph her foot, recalled him saying, “I know this is crazy, but can I kiss your foot?” The unemployed teen agreed, believing this was part of the television show “prank.”

After guiding Finley behind a clothing rack, Leaphart dropped to the floor and took hold of the teen’s ankle. “Don’t worry, I don’t bite,” he assured her. Leaphart then put Finley’s big toe in his mouth and began sucking on it. Relenting in the face of Finley’s screams, Leaphart stood up and said, “Oh, it tasted so good though,” before running from the Walmart in Grovetown.

In an interview today, Finley said that she was disappointed with the decision to not charge Leaphart due to her consenting to physical contact. “I was tricked into it,” Finley said, “but they’re saying they can’t legally do anything to him.”

Leaphart is a convicted felon who pleaded guilty in December 2000 to licking the toes of an 11-year-old girl (a crime that landed him on the South Carolina sex offender registry). In February, Leaphart was busted after approaching a female shopper at a Walmart in South Carolina and asking if he could kiss and smell her feet. (2 page)