Dean charged in prostitution ring

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WHITE PLAINS, N.Y., Nov. 21 (UPI) -- An upstate New York high school dean is accused of ordering prostitutes and feeding a 20-year crack cocaine addiction has been arrested.

David Mendelowitz, 58, of White Plains was a guidance counselor at the prestigious Scarsdale High School, where counselors carry the title dean, since 1997. Parents and students described Mendelowitz as attentive and talented. He was active in student affairs, including serving as a mentor on the school's Drug and Alcohol Task Force, The (White Plains) Journal News said Wednesday.

He retired abruptly in June for what school officials thought was a health problem. In reality, he had been approached by detectives who had learned of his weekend crack and hooker habit and leaned on him for information, investigators said.

Mendelowitz was one of 19 people charged Tuesday in a 180-count indictment when investigators led by the New York attorney general's office busted the ring. Prosecutors said they have Mendelowitz on tape three times in May ordering prostitutes, crack cocaine and Viagra.

Investigators later said Mendelowitz allegedly alerted his dealer to the investigation despite being ordered to remain silent.