Cleveland Radio: WMMS' Rover Pleads Guilty

Shane French

The heated legal fight between WMMS 100.7 FM morning host Shane "œRover" French and Cleveland police officer Steven Kinas ended Monday after French pleaded guilty to four misdemeanors, according to cleveland.com.

French's guilty plea came after Cuyahoga County prosecutors agreed to dismiss felonies involving his  confrontation with the off-duty officer July 5 at a Whiskey Island marina.

French, 38, of Avon, was to go to trial May 20 before Common Pleas Judge Brian Corrigan with his radio sidekick Michael "Chocolate Charlie" Toomey, 29, of Lakewood.

On Monday, French and Toomey each pleaded guilty to inducing panic, disorderly conduct, illegal use of fireworks and criminal damaging. Corrigan fined them $750 each, gave them a year of probation and suspended a six-month jail sentence. He also ordered them to pay $3,414 in restitution to a family affected in the case.

French and Toomey were indicted on seven felony charges of inducing panic, attempted felonious assault and vandalism. French also was accused of assault on a police officer and resisting arrest. The charge of assault on a police officer is a felony.

Much of the case stems from the early morning confrontation between French and Kinas. The officer reported that he was on his boat called Anger Managed when a drunken French shot fireworks in the direction of Kinas' boat about 3:40 a.m. French was near his boat, Off Air, near Olde River Yacht Club.

The officer said he approached French, who then shoved him. Other Cleveland officers later arrested French and Toomey.

French gave a different story Monday: He said Kinas assaulted him and knocked him unconscious for 30 to 40 seconds. He also said he is considering filing legal action against the officer.

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