A Springfield Gardens man pleaded guilty in Queens Criminal Court on Tuesday to official misconduct for exposing himself to a parent he was investigating when he worked for the City Administration for Children’s Services (ACS) in 2021.
Harold Latour, 60, was a child protective specialist at the ACS when he exposed himself to the parent during two home visits.
The city’s Department of Investigation (DOI) conducted an investigation with the Office of Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz, who prosecuted the case.
Latour’s duties and responsibilities included making home visits in connection with child welfare investigations. The DOI probe determined that Latour made such a visit in October 2021 in Queens while investigating allegations against a mother. Latour wore basketball shorts to the visit and was not wearing underwear when he sat down on the couch across from the woman, exposing himself to her. Latour returned for another home visit the following month and again wore basketball shorts, exposing himself to her, this time while seated in her kitchen. During the DOI’s investigation, Latour was placed on modified duty and had no further contact with families or children.
“Today, this former Child Protective Services Specialist takes responsibility for harassing a parent he was investigating by exposing himself to her,” DOI Commissioner Jocelyn Stauber said. “The misconduct to which he has now pled guilty betrayed the trust the City placed in him to access families’ homes and to safeguard vulnerable families and children. I thank the Queens District Attorney’s Office for its commitment to protect families and ACS for immediately informing DOI of these allegations so they could be properly investigated.”
Latour was sentenced to a conditional discharge. He committed to resign from ACS and retired from the agency in March. Latour also completed sex offender treatment as part of his plea agreement. He has been evaluated and is currently enrolled in a treatment program.
“ACS workers hold positions of trust and are responsible for protecting vulnerable children,” Katz said. “Harold Latour abused his authority as an ACS child protective services specialist and exposed himself to a parent during two home visits,” Katz said. “Today, the defendant pleaded guilty to official misconduct and will face the consequences for his reprehensible behavior.”
His case has been adjourned until Sep. 12 for an update on his progress in the program.
“I thank our partners at the Department of Investigation and the Administration for Children’s Services for their assistance in this prosecution,” Katz said.
Latour had been an ACS employee since June 2011 and was receiving an annual salary in excess of $65,000 when he retired in March 2024.
