The director of the Derby Parking Authority has applied for a special form of probation after being charged with trying to procure the services of a prostitute.
Leo Moscato, Jr., a prominent downtown business and property owner, applied for accelerated rehabilitation in Superior Court in Waterbury Wednesday.
Moscato, 46, was one of 18 people arrested during an undercover sex sting by the Naugatuck Police Department.
Moscato was charged with criminal attempt of patronizing a prostitute after replying to an ad on Craigslist offering sex.
Moscato traveled to Naugatuck, police said, and made a deal to exchange money for a sex act.
The prostitute was an undercover police officer.
Moscato was arraigned in Waterbury Wednesday, where he submitted an application for accelerated rehabilitation.
It’s a special form of probation for first-time offenders who can have their criminal records wiped clean — provided they stay out of trouble for two years.
Moscato is due in court again June 9, where a judge will review Moscato’s application, a court clerk in Waterbury said.
After his arrest, Derby Mayor Anthony Staffieri expressed disappointment in Moscato’s behavior, but left any disciplinary action up to the city’s Parking Authority, who supervises Moscato.
They’ve apparently decided to do nothing.
The Parking Authority met for an hour in a closed-door meeting Wednesday and took no action against Moscato.
Moscato left the meeting without answering questions.
John Dorosh, chairman of the Parking Authority and a Derby police officer, only confirmed that Moscato is still working with the Parking Authority.
He would not comment on what action, if any, the board plans to take.
“We don’t comment on personnel issues and that’s all I can say,” Dorosh told reporters.
Moscato has retained the New Haven law firm of Dombroski, Knapsack and Hillis, LLC to represent him.
A message left at the firm was not returned Wednesday evening.
Prior to the executive session meeting, life-long Derby resident Tom Lionetti stuck up for Moscato.
“I urge the board, do not make this any bigger, do not make the city of Derby look like a laughing stock,” said resident Tom Lionetti. “Please, let’s go on with business.”
Lionetti added that Moscato does “a good job with the parking authority.”
What happens in a person’s personal life should remain personal, Lionetti said.
Moscato is a chef trained by the Culinary Institute. He recently opened “Leo’s Down Under,” an upscale eatery on Main Street next to The Twisted Vine.
