Executive Summary
- U.S. Marshals are searching for Leon Barber, 64, following an August 2025 arrest warrant.
- Barber is a convicted rapist listed as non-compliant on the Maryland Sex Offender Registry.
- Prior charges include a 2001 rape conviction and a dismissed 2023 armed robbery case.
BALTIMORE — The U.S. Marshals Service has announced active efforts to locate 64-year-old Leon Barber, a convicted rapist and registered sex offender who is currently unaccounted for. According to federal authorities, a warrant for Barber’s arrest was issued in August 2025 related to a probation violation.
Court records indicate that Barber was convicted of first-degree rape in Baltimore City in 2001. Following a sentence of more than 35 years in prison, he was released on mandatory supervised release in February 2023. As a condition of his release, Barber is required to register as a sex offender. The Maryland Sex Offender Registry currently lists his status as “non-compliant.”
Investigators state that Barber faced legal scrutiny shortly after his release. According to court documents, he was arrested in September 2023 in north Baltimore on charges of armed robbery and assault. The police report alleges Barber held a box cutter to a woman’s throat and demanded her purse. While the victim identified Barber via a photograph, the Baltimore City State’s Attorney’s Office confirmed that the case was not prosecuted because a witness failed to appear in court.
Al Maresca, a senior inspector with the U.S. Marshals Service, emphasized the urgency of the search, citing Barber’s criminal history. Online court records show Barber was arrested for first-degree rape in 1993, 1994, and 1998, in addition to his 2001 conviction. Authorities are urging anyone with information regarding Barber’s whereabouts to contact the U.S. Marshals Service.
Public Safety Impact
The pursuit of Leon Barber highlights the critical role of federal oversight in managing high-risk offenders released on probation. With a documented history of violent offenses and current non-compliance with sex offender registry protocols, law enforcement officials classify this case as a significant public safety concern. The U.S. Marshals Service prioritizes such cases to mitigate the risks of recidivism often associated with unregistered sex offenders who evade supervision.
It is important to note that all individuals are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
