Former Houston Talker's Bail Revocation Hearing Rescheduled

Another Right-Wing Talker Sexual Pervert


The hearing on whether bail should be revoked for former KSEV-A/HOUSTON talk show host JON MATTHEWS has been rescheduled for FEBRUARY 9. The HOUSTON CHRONICLE reports that MATTHEWS appeared WEDNESDAY in a FORT BEND COUNTY court for the originally scheduled hearing, but his attorney got the court to move the hearing back a month to allow him preparation time.

MATTHEWS is out of prison on bail after being accused of violating his probation for exposing himself to an 11-year-old girl. The violations include a positive test for alcohol, alleged Internet sex fantasy activity, and being terminated from a counseling program.

Houston Chronicle, January 4, 2007

L.A.’s Top Hispanic DJ Accused of Domestic Violence

KFI’s bloviating talk duo – John and Ken – are having a lot of fun with this story

NORTHRIDGE – Police expect popular morning radio disc jockey Renán Almendárez Coello – known as El Cucuy – to surrender for questioning today in a New Year’s Day incident involving his son.

Officers with the Los Angeles police Devonshire Division responded to a domestic violence call at Almendárez Coello’s Northridge home around 7 a.m. Monday, Lt. John McMahon said. The popular and influential DJ was not at home when they arrived.

"We’re asking him to turn himself in so he can present his side of the story," McMahon said. . .

KFI January 4, 2007

Radio talk show host pleads guilty to money laundering

"... my whole defense will be based on the truth ... every good story sounds true until the other side is told."

Walter "Eddie" Floyd, a Reno businessman and radio talk show host, pleaded guilty Friday in federal court to charges related to his involvement in a cross-country marijuana trafficking and money laundering operation.

In U.S. District Court, Floyd, 59, pleaded guilty to one count of money laundering and aiding and abetting. He faces up to 20 years in prison and a $500,000 fine. A March 30 sentencing hearing has been scheduled. He remains free on $100,000 bail.

Floyd initially pleaded not guilty to 21 counts of drug trafficking and money laundering following a February indictment. On Friday, he admitted to laundering $175,000 through his local businesses. The money came from a Northern California marijuana operation, he admitted.
In September, Floyd had claimed his severe depression was in such a "precarious state" that his psychiatrist guessed he would suffer a nervous breakdown and become incompetent to stand trial, according to court documents.

Floyd's attorney, Scott Edwards, could not be reached for comment on Friday.
During a February interview with the Reno Gazette-Journal, Eddie Floyd insisted he was innocent and said "... my whole defense will be based on the truth ... every good story sounds true until the other side is told."

Floyd had been host of "Nevada Matters" a Monday through Saturday radio talk show on KBDB 1400 AM. At the time the indictment was handed down, he owned U.S. Realty, Combined Associates Development Co. Inc. and was trying to start a retail Web site.

Reno Gazette, December 30, 2006

Handel Loses His Handle

Top radio host in the country gets pissed off when another hosts kicks his kids out of his studio. Why is it that right wing talk radio hosts can dish out, but can's take it?

KFI/Los Angeles personality Bill Handel got a little hot under the collar with Jamie White, morning hostess at Clear Channel clusterpal KYSR (Star 98.7), on the air this morning. Handel, who occasionally brings his kids to work, went into Star's studio and began yelling at White live, allegedly because she threw his kids out of her studio.According to a clip that aired on KTLA-TV this morning, White opened the exchange by telling Handel, "I just pointed at your kids with my orange flute and told them don't come back." Handel angrily responded, "If you ever talk to my kids that way again, Jamie, I am going to kick your ass. You are not allowed to talk to them! Are you telling me they can't be on the fifth floor?"White shot back, "I'm telling them they can't be right there," to which Handel yelled, "You have such goddamn losing numbers on this loser show. Shut up! You don't talk to my kids that way." Handel also shouted, "Don't you touch me!" which suggests that someone was trying to force him out of the studio -- right before he dropped a couple of f-bombs on his way out.

Radio and Records, December 15, 2006

Handel Gets Week's Suspension For On-Air Tirade
The great CLEAR CHANNEL/LOS ANGELES battle of titans has resulted in a one week suspension for Talk KFI-A morning star BILL HANDEL, to be served upon his return from his previously-scheduled two week vacation. HANDEL, in an incident that landed on local CW affiliate KTLA (TV)'s morning news show and, subsequently, on YOUTUBE, burst into Modern AC KYSR (STAR 98.7)'s studios and yelled at STAR morning host JAMIE WHITE for throwing his twin daughters out of her studio and threatening "if you ever talk to my kids like that again, JAMIE, I'm going to kick your ass." HANDEL also dropped a pair of "f-bombs," but STAR says that they were caught by the delay system and did not air (the KTLA tape appears to have come from a pre-delay skimmer tape). In a statement, HANDEL apologized for his outburst, saying "I want to apologize to JAMIE and her team for my behavior and how I handled the unfortunate incident this morning. It was simply a reaction of a dad who was protecting his children. I lost my temper, I lost my cool."

Allaccess.com December 18, 2006

Hosts Behaving Badly

WTKS's Blackbean Gets Fine, Probation For Punching Rival

What's wrong with active competition?

The battery case against CLEAR CHANNEL Talk WTKS (REAL RADIO 104.1)/ORLANDO "MONSTERS IN THE MORNING" sidekick CARLOS "BLACKBEAN" NAVARRO for punching crosstown CBS Alternative WOCL (O-ROCK 105.9) morning man (and former WTKS host) DREW GARABO at an appearance has resulted in no jail time but a fine and probation.

The ORLANDO SENTINEL's SCOTT MAXWELL reports that NAVARRO pleaded no contest to the charge stemming from the MARCH 17 incident and escaped jail time or a formal conviction, instead receiving the status of "adjudication withheld" with three years' supervised probation, a $2,000 fine, orders to stay away from GARABO and alcohol, and 200 hours of community service.

Orlando Sentinel, November 30, 2006

Laura Ingraham Thinks Voter Suppression is a Joke

With the Democratic party sweep of the House and Representatives exceeding even the optimistic projections it is becoming clear that Right Wing talk radio didn’t help the hapless Republicans very much. In fact, in her acceptance speech, new Democratic Senator from Missouri, Claire McCaskill thanked Rush Limbaugh for his attack on Michael J. Fox over the stem-cell issue.

Conservative radio host Laura Ingraham today asked her listeners to call the Dem Voter protection hotline — and they are now being flooded with calls from crank callers.

Think Laura is the scum of the earth? Well, give her a call, for cryin' out loud, and tell her what you think about this:

(800)876-4123

In addition, a "caller indicated she is running a tape of Bill Clinton over and over saying "call 1-888 Dem Vote to report problems" — and then making fun of him, thus producing a spike in crank calls to the number"

Liberal Talk Radio Blog, November 8, 2006

Caustic Comment Costs WRKO Host His Job

I guess it's worse to call gay woman “fat lesbian” than to call a gay man a “fag”

WRKO Boston Talk host John DePetro was fired Friday after he made a derogatory comment about the weight and sexuality of the Green-Rainbow party candidate running for Massachusetts governor. DePetro was pulled from the air a day after he called candidate Grace Ross a "fat lesbian."

Over the summer, DePetro was suspended and ordered to apologize for calling former Massachusetts Turnpike chief Matt Amorello a “fag” on the air.

Candidate Ross, to whom DePetro’s latest insult was directed, said, “I think he was indeed being nasty. It’s not news to anybody that I’m a lesbian. This is supposed to be about an election, not name-calling.”

Radio Ink, November 6, 2006

Regular Guys fired after Yogi and Panda lawsuit

Here's a case where two talk radio hosts really took their show to the toilet

For the second time in about three years, Clear Channel Communications Inc. has fired Larry Wachs and Eric Von Haessler, better known as The Regular Guys Show, from the morning slot at 96Rock (WKLS-FM). The termination follows a lawsuit filed by fellow morning DJs Juan Tapia and José Carias, who co-host "Yogi y Panda por la Mañana" on Clear Channel's WWVA-FM Viva 105.7, a Hispanic Top 40 station.

In their Oct. 17 lawsuit, the pair claims Wachs and Von Haessler made several offensive on-air statements about their sexual orientation, race and nationality, and that Clear Channel "largely ignored" their complaints about the Regular Guys' behavior.

On. Oct. 9, the suit claims, Wachs followed Tapia and Carias into a restroom at Clear Channel, where he recorded their conversation and "certain offensive sounds while they were utilizing the facilities."

The next day, the Regular Guys played the recording during their show, according to the suit.

Wachs confirmed The Regulars Guys show has been canned again on his personal blog.

allaccess.com, October 24, 2006

Omaha Pols Demand Apology From KFAB Over Parody

Afterall, "it's safer than Bagdad"

The OMAHA CITY COUNCIL is taking up the matter of whether it should demand an apology from CLEAR CHANNEL Talk KFAB-A/OMAHA for a commercial parody by host TOM BECKA that parodies the "Discover NORTH OMAHA" tourism spot and highlights the gang violence in NORTH OMAHA. Councilman FRANK BROWN has placed the issue on next week's agenda, complaining that BECKA's version of the "Discover NORTH OMAHA" spot has caused damage to the community.

BECKA's parody invites listeners to "discover miles of mayhem. Discover drive-bys. Discover gang violence... We've got a real sense of community here. When there's a shooting, we all stick together and don't rat on the suspects.... Arson, abductions, assaults. Everything that makes a community exciting. Discover NORTH OMAHA. After all, it's safer than BAGHDAD."

The station has removed the parody from its website and apologized "to any listener who found the parody... to be insensitive or offensive. KFAB does not condone violence. We have decided to remove (the parody) from our website. The parody was meant to draw attention to some of the growing problems in NORTH OMAHA, however we do not want the parody we created to be the focus of attention. What needs to be the focus of attention is finding a solution to the problems of NORTH OMAHA."

AllAccess.com, October 13, 2006

Shreveport Newsman Enters Not Guilty Plea In Sex Case

Another day another radio guy get's busted for a sex offense

Former CLEAR CHANNEL/SHREVEPORT newsman MICHAEL SIEVE entered a not guilty plea to sex-solicitation charges in federal court WEDNESDAY. SIEVE was indicted by a grand jury last month on three counts of attempting to solicit a minor for sex on the Internet after being caught in a sting by an undercover officer posing as a 14-year-old girl; SIEVE was arrested at SHREVEPORT's COLUMBIA PARK, where he had allegedly arranged to have sex with the girl, as well as a 12-year-old girl and 16-year-old boy. He remains free on $25,000 bond and home detention.

October 12, 2006, All-Access.com

Former KFI Talker Is Arrested on Ship

This former right wing talk show host may have outdone Republican Congressman Foley by taking on two 12 year old boys in a hot tub, rather than just exchanging x-rated emails with a 16 year old Congressional page.

Roderick "Rod" Bernsen, a former Los Angeles police sergeant who became a well-known reporter on KTTV's Fox 11 television news for more than a decade, was arrested Saturday in Long Beach after returning from a cruise, FBI spokeswoman Laura Eimiller said Monday.

Bernsen was being held without bail at Long Beach City Jail for "a crime that occurred aboard a cruise ship," Eimiller said. She would not disclose the nature of the alleged crime.

But law enforcement sources with knowledge of the arrest said Bernsen, 58, was suspected of molesting two 12-year-old boys in the ship's sauna. One or more of the boys' parents confronted Bernsen and notified a ship investigator, according to the sources, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak publicly about the case.

From late last year until May, he filled in as a host on KFI-AM (640), Los Angeles' most popular talk radio station.

Los Angeles Times, October 10, 2006

Anthrax Scare at Montery Radio Station

What's the big deal. An envelope of white powder at a radio station

Independently-owned Zwerling Broadcasting news/talker KSCO/Santa Cruz, Calif. was locked down on Monday (Sept. 25) after an employee opened an envelope that had been mailed to the station containing an unknown white powder substance. Early tests indicated the powder was not anthrax or any other hazardous substance; however, additional tests are being conducted to confirm that the material posed no threat.

Radio Daily News, September 29, 2006

Ex-salesman sentenced in radio fraud

You don't make much when you work for a public radio station

A former salesman for the University of Michigan's public radio and TV stations who was convicted of conspiracy to embezzle was sentenced Thursday to 18 months probation.

Jeremy Nordquist, 28, of Saline was among three former employees of the stations who were accused of embezzling about $60,000 in items that had been donated in exchange for on-air mentions.

Nordquist admitted during his trial that he received a pool table, Persian rugs and other items but said he was following the directions of his supervisors.

A Washtenaw County Circuit Court jury in July convicted Nordquist of conspiracy to embezzle but cleared him of a second embezzlement charge. Nordquist could get less time on probation if he pays $5,000 in restitution.

Michigan Public Media operates WUOM-FM in Ann Arbor, WVGR-FM in Grand Rapids, WFUM-FM in Flint, WFUM-TV and the Michigan Channel cable station.

Detroit Free Press, Sept. 24, 2006

Ex-KIRO radio host's trial for fraud ends in a mistrial

Talker says convict me and I'll shot myself and judge declares mistrial

The insurance-fraud trial of former radio talk-show host Mike Webb ended in a mistrial Thursday after a judge determined the jury had been tainted by seeing Webb handcuffed by police following an outburst outside the courthouse a day earlier.
"The taint is too great; it does not afford Mr. Webb a fair and impartial trial. I do not have any choice," King County Superior Court Judge Julie Spector told jurors Thursday after some of them testified that they witnessed or heard about the incident before they were to begin deliberating.
According to a Seattle Police Department report, police found Webb acting "irrational and irate" on James Street and Second Avenue after testimony in his trial concluded just before 1 p.m. Wednesday. A woman told police that Webb had threatened to kill himself if found guilty and that he had access to a gun in his house, the report stated.
When an officer contacted Webb on the street and asked if he would allow police to retrieve the gun from his home, Webb said no, according to the report.
Webb was not arrested, but he was handcuffed and taken to Harborview Medical Center for a mental-health evaluation, according to Seattle police spokesman Jeff Kappel.

Seattle Post-Intelligencer

WWL Talk Host Accused Of Murder, Free On Bail

I guess the disguise didn't fool his radio listeners

WWL New Orleans Talk host Vince Marinello, who stands accused of murdering his estranged wife, is free after posting the quarter-million dollar bail.

Marinello, who’s 69, is charged with dressing in a disguise and shooting his estranged wife to death in what amounted to a “hit” in a suburban parking lot.

Mary Elizabeth Marinello, a 45-year-old respiratory therapist, died a day after she was shot twice in the face in the parking lot.

This past July she had filed for a divorce from Marinello after she learned he was still married when they wed.

Investigators say that on August 31, Marinello put on a fake mustache and beard, rode a bicycle to the parking lot he knew she used regularly, waited, then shot her before making his getaway.

Authorities say that in a search of Marinello’s post-Hurricane Katrina FEMA trailer, they found a handwritten checklist of the alleged plans for the shooting.

Radio Ink, September 14, 2006

Curses! KOA fails to block two expletives on show

I'll bet the caller referred to a "fucking cunt"

Oops! A caller this week blurted out a double expletive on "The Mike Rosen Show" on KOA 850-AM. Radio stations, particularly talk stations, are wary of such lapses and use a delay to block off-color language. KOA missed on this one.
A replay of Rosen's Tuesday show is on KOA's website but the offending words involving a sex act and a human body part have disappeared.
Rosen's on-air apology is there, however. "It is our responsibility to have that delay system working," he explained, quickly. "It wasn't functioning the way it should be. We'll try to keep that from happening in the future."
Rosen said on Wednesday he thinks that will be enough to keep the FCC or owner Clear Channel off KOA's back. "If I had said it, we'd be in deep trouble. Normally, our (7-second) delay would protect us."
Weekend highlights

Denver Post, August 18, 2006

Former Houston Talker Accused Of Sex Crime

Why are all these sex perverts right wingers?

Former Talk KSEV-A/HOUSTON host JON MATTHEWS turned himself in at FORT BEND COUNTY (TX) Jail FRIDAY for an alleged probation violation. according to the HOUSTON CHRONICLE.

MATTHEWS, 71, was placed on probation for exposing himself to an 11 year old girl in his home in OCTOBER 2003; he was to avoid alcohol and the viewing of sexually explicit material, but the CHRONICLE reports that MATTHEWS tested positive for alcohol and was "discussing sexual fantasies over the Internet."

MATTHEWS was released on $20,000. bond this afternoon. He faces seven years in prison based on the deferred adjudication sentence he received when probation was granted.

Billboard Radio Monitor

Richmond Talk Host Wins "Annoying" Award

I accept this award as badge of honor

CLEAR CHANNEL Talk WRVA-A/RICHMOND afternoon host MAC WATSON is proud to announce that he has been awarded the honor of "RICHMOND's Most Annoying Radio Host for 2006" by RICHMOND MAGAZINE. "I accept this award as a badge of honor and validation!," WATSON tells ALL ACCESS. "There's no such thing as a bad award."

WATSON will be "annoying" people nationwide on AUGUST 1 when he fills in for GLENN BECK on the latter's PREMIERE syndicated show.

Billboard Radio Monitor, August 2, 2006

Talker Yanked For Homosexual Slur

“A fag is not gay just a sissy boy”

An Entercom talk show host has been suspended after calling a state official a “fag.” John DePetro, late morning host for talk WRKO Boston, has been suspended for two days by the company for referring to Massachusetts Turnpike Authority chairman Matthew J. Amorello as “Fag Matt.” “And I don’t mean gay fag, I just mean the way when you’re a sophomore, juvenile, in grammar school and somebody would say you’re like a sissy boy fag,” DePetro said on-air. “I don’t mean gay fag. I mean like sissy boy. He’s a little sissy boy. Wife wears the pants.” Entercom worked quickly in suspending DePetro, who made the comment on July 17. “This corporation has zero tolerance for racial intolerance,” WRKO and sports WEEI VP of programming Jason Wolfe told the Boston Herald. “Mr. DePetro has 72 hours to think about it.” Wolfe told the Boston Globe that he purposely chose the word "racial" because "people will lump everything in together." Amorello is under fire because of problems surrounding a major tunnel project in Boston. He has faced calls for his resignation since the recent "Big Dig" tunnel collapse there.

Billboard Radio Monitor, July 19, 2006

Limbaugh Detained on Drug Investigation

Now we know why Daryn Kagan broke up with El Rushbo. He can't keep it up!


Rush Limbaugh was detained for more than three hours Monday at Palm Beach International Airport after authorities said they found a bottle of Viagra in his possession without a prescription.

Customs officials found a prescription bottle labeled as Viagra in his luggage that didn't have Limbaugh's name on it, but that of two doctors, said Paul Miller, spokesman for the Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office.

A doctor had prescribed the drug, but it was "labeled as being issued to the physician rather than Mr. Limbaugh for privacy purposes," Roy Black, Limbaugh's attorney, said in a statement.

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement examined the 55-year-old radio commentator's luggage after his private plane landed at the airport from the Dominican Republic, said Miller.

The matter was referred to the sheriff's office, whose investigators interviewed Limbaugh. According to Miller, Limbaugh said that the Viagra was for his use, and that he obtained it from his doctors.

Investigators confiscated the drugs, which treats erectile dysfunction, and Limbaugh was released without being charged.

The sheriff's office plans to file a report with the state attorney's office. Miller said it could be a second-degree misdemeanor violation.

Limbaugh reached a deal last month with prosecutors who had accused the conservative talk-show host of illegally deceiving multiple doctors to receive overlapping painkiller prescriptions. Under the deal, the charge, commonly referred to as "doctor shopping," would be dismissed after 18 months if he continues to submit to random drug tests and treatment for his acknowledged addiction to painkillers.

Associated Press, June 27, 2006