Department of Children and Families protective investigator Jean Lacroix was still detained in New York after attempting to flee the country, authorities said.
He was not allowed entry into the Dominican Republic over the weekend. Miami-Dade State Attorney Katherine Fernandez Rundle said 45-year-old Lacroix has decided to fight extradition. That means a delay in getting him back to Miami to face five charges of unlawful sexual activity with a certain minor, a teenager in foster care.
On June 28, DCF sent him a notice of intent to dismiss. In addition to allegations that he engaged in sexual conduct with the victim, that letter states on Nov. 10, 2011 she told him about minor-aged girls who were allegedly involved in prostitution.
He was required to report that to the Florida Abuse Hotline and DCF says he did not.
"Someone who's supposed to go out there and investigate her well-being and determine if there are any other allegations becomes a predator himself," said Fernandez-Rundle.
Records show 72 phone calls between the subject and victim in a one month period, authorities said. On May 4, DCF instructed him to have no communication with the victim, but two days later he saw and spoke to her.
In the notice of intent to dismiss, obtained exclusively by NBC 6, DCF states: " between November 2011 and January 2012 you picked up unnamed victim at school on at least one occasion took her to a residence and engaged in sexual contact."
Local
"On November 10, 2011 the victim told you about minor aged girls who were allegedly involved in prostitution. You did not report the allegation to the Florida Abuse Hotline."
"You have compromised the safety of children entrusted to our care," the letter said.
Now Lacroix is challenging the state's efforts to get him back to South Florida.
"We are told that he is going to fight the extradition process, and of course that's within his legal rights to do that but we're also going to fight as an office to make sure he comes back to this community, and he's held accountable to this community and to that victim," Fernandez-Rundle said.
It wasn't immediately known if he had an attorney.
