Man admits public lewdness that happened in DSS offices
Allegations included that he tampered with female co-workers' coffee cups.
June 20, 2002
By Jim O'Hara
Staff writer

A former Department of Social Services supervisor pleaded guilty in Syracuse City Court Wednesday to charges of public lewdness.

Ronald W. Castle Sr., 54, of 123 Lamson St., Apt. 7-A, pleaded guilty before Judge Thomas Higgins Jr. to three counts each of public lewdness, second-degree criminal nuisance and second-degree harassment. Higgins promised Castle a sentence of probation and scheduled sentencing for Aug. 7.  In pleading guilty, Castle, who has been a county employee for more than 30 years, admitted he had been masturbating into the coffee cups of co-workers.

Castle admitted tampering with the coffee cup of one female co-worker in the DSS offices on Jan. 18. He admitted to tampering with the coffee cup of another female co-worker in the office on a number of occasions between Jan. 1, 2001, and this past Jan. 18. And he admitted to tampering with the headset of another female employee on one occasion during that same January-to-January time period.
Castle was arrested in January after a surveillance camera that had been secretly placed in the office caught him in one of the victims' work cubicles early the morning of Jan. 18. Castle gave sheriff's detectives a statement admitting he tampered with the belongings of six women who worked in the office where he worked as an income maintenance supervisor.

Castle was suspended without pay after his arrest. County officials said Wednesday a grievance is pending as Castle challenges the county's decision to terminate him from employment.

Assistant District Attorney Gary Dawson said Wednesday he had tried to make a withdrawal of that grievance - and continued counseling - a condition of any plea bargain to settle the case against Castle. However, with Castle pleading guilty to all the charges lodged against him, the prosecution cannot dictate the terms of any sentencing deal, Dawson noted.

Seven women who worked with Castle in the DSS offices in the downtown Civic Center have filed notices of claim against the county, preserving their rights to file sexual harassment lawsuits in connection with Castle's conduct as supervisor.