County Hall Of Fame Removes Announcer Over Child Porn Charge

WHITE PLAINS, NY — A Westchester County sports announcer was removed from the Sports Hall of Fame because he admitted in court to having child pornography.

The committee that runs the Westchester County Sports Hall of Fame removed the honor from 75-year-old Richard Leaf of Somers, News 12 reported.

Leaf, a former Harrison social studies teacher, pleaded guilty earlier this month in federal court to one count of receiving child pornography.

The charge carries a prison term between five and 20 years.

Leaf is scheduled to be sentenced in January.

He was accused in February 2021 of posing as a teen to chat online with a minor who sent him a pornographic video and a fully nude photo.

Leaf was inducted into the Sports Hall of Fame in 2017.

Westchester County Executive George Latimer and Board of Legislators Chairman Vedat Gashi urged in a letter that the Sports Hall of Fame committee take immediate action to remove Leaf from the hall of fame.

“By removing Mr. Leaf from the Hall of Fame, we send a clear message that the Westchester Sports Hall of Fame stands firmly against any actions or behaviors that compromise the principles it represents,” the letter said.