Fox 5 Reporter Charged With Sexually Assaulting Girl, 4
NEW YORK (CBS 2/1010 WINS/AP) -- Fox 5 News reporter Charles Leaf was arrested Tuesday in New Jersey on sex assault charges.
Leaf, 40, a general assignment and investigative reporter, was arrested on three counts of sexual assault and endangering the welfare of a child at his home in Wyckoff, according to the Bergen County Prosecutor's Office.
Officials said the victim, a 4-year-old girl, was an acquaintance of Leaf and was assaulted inside his home, 1010 WINS' Steve Sandberg reported.
Leaf, an ex-Marine and married father of two, was charged with first-degree aggravated sexual assault, second-degree sexual assault and second-degree endangering the welfare of a child.
Leaf was also ordered to surrender his passport and have no contact with the victim.
CBS 2's John Slattery spoke with neighbors who couldn't believe the allegations.
"Devastated. Nice guy. Great family. Shocked, shocked and hope it's not true," Judy Mullane said.
Mullane described Leaf as a "friendly guy" and said "He plays with his kids in the front yard all the time and some of the other neighborhood kids join in."
"I can't believe it. He seems like a great family man to me," Joseph Mullane said.
Leaf's wife refused to speak with CBS 2.
The arrest stemmed from an investigation between the prosecutor's office Sex Crimes and Child Abuse Unit and the Wyckoff Police Department.
Leaf is being held on $250,000 bail and his arraignment was scheduled for November 4.
Leaf joined the station in 2006. A station spokesperson said Fox 5 management was "aware of the matter and is reviewing it."
