Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, January 9, 1992 TAG: 9201090447
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: B-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: LAURENCE HAMMACK STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Short
DISC JOCKEY CONVICTED IN TEEN'S SEXUAL ABUSE
A former disc jockey for a Roanoke radio station was convicted Wednesday of sexually abusing a 14-year-old boy after first offering to help the youth overcome a speech impediment.John Kevin Janney, who worked part-time as a disc jockey at WJLM-FM, J-93, pleaded no contest to a charge of sexual battery.
Judge Fred Hoback of Roanoke Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court sentenced Janney to 60 days in jail.
Janney, 24, first met the youth after the 14-year-old called the station and expressed an interest in radio.
Authorities had first charged Janney - who went by the on-air name of Kevin Thomas at the country-music station - with aggravated sexual battery, a felony. The charge was reduced Wednesday to a misdemeanor.
In summarizing the evidence, Assistant Commonwealth's Attorney Mac Doubles said Janney picked the boy up near his home in Bedford County last November and drove him to Roanoke.
Once at Janney's Church Avenue apartment, the 14-year-old complained of a headache and was given a pill. He then fell asleep and later awoke to find that he was being fondled by Janney, Doubles said.
Shortly after his arrest, officials at J-93 said Janney had been placed on administrative leave. His attorney, Jeff Rudd, said Wednesday that Janney no longer works for the station and has moved away from Roanoke.
Rudd said his client denies giving a pill to the youth. While declining to elaborate on the other allegations, Rudd said Janney decided not to contest the charge in order to resolve the case quickly and put it behind him.
Janney received a 12-month sentence, but Hoback suspended all but 60 days in jail. He also was ordered to perform 100 hours of community service.