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| Michael Harris |
Less than a year after KCOH, Houston radio's voice of the black community
for six decades, moved from 1430 AM to 1230 and began being run by local
minister Jesse Dunn, the station is mired in controversy, according to the
Houston Chronicle.
In a civil suit filed Monday, longtime KCOH host Michael
Harris - who resigned two weeks ago after 38 years on the air - accuses Dunn,
the station's president, and the South Houston Community Development
Corporation, doing business as KCOH 1230 AM, of fraud.
Harris claims Dunn made false representations to induce him
to secure two personal lines of credit totaling $130,000 for station financing
and back a $38,000 loan for equipment. According to the complaint, financial
documents and pronouncements in local media by Harris, Dunn allegedly acquired
a debit card on at least one credit line to pay personal expenses as well as
fund trips to Louisiana and Las Vegas casinos.
The accusations have caused an uproar among listeners and
community activists while fueling concerns about the station's future.
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| Jesse Dunn |
Dunn declined to comment on the lawsuit, but admitted that
the new KCOH faces challenges. He denied misusing funds as well as allegations
that KCOH is in jeopardy.
KCOH was on the market until last December when relatives of
the late Michael Petrizzo - the longtime majority owner - and other partners
sold its signal for $2.1 million to La Promesa Foundation of Midland, which
then relaunched 1430 AM with Catholic programming as part of the Guadalupe
Radio Network.
KCOH took over the 1230 AM signal on March 1. The new
leadership team leased the frequency from Lieberman Broadcasting, as well as
use of the historic call letters and the "looking-glass" studios at
5011 Almeda from 1430's former owners.
What station are you on now?
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