His 15 minutes are up.
Posted on 05/28/2004 5:21:33 PM PDT by Libloather
Father of 'American Idol' finalist charged in waitress incident
Associated Press
Posted on Fri, May. 28, 2004
COLLEGE PARK, Ga. - The father of a former "American Idol" finalist was charged Friday with simple battery after being accused by a waitress of making an unwelcome sexual advance.
Former Atlanta police chief Eldrin Bell, the father of former "Idol" finalist Justin Guarini, was formally arrested Friday after a court hearing on the matter. Bell was released on his own recognizance.
The 68-year-old Bell, a candidate for chairman of the Clayton County Commission, was Atlanta's police chief from 1990 to 1994. In all, he spent 33 years on the city's police force.
Daphne Michelle Wynn, 30, a waitress at The Feed Store in College Park, said Bell grabbed her from behind while leaving the restaurant and then sucked on her neck, leaving a bruise.
Five police photos, taken within 20 minutes of the May 7 incident, showed a red mark under Wynn's right ear and helped the judge determine there was probable cause for the charge.
After the hearing, Bell said he was "surprised, yes and shocked that all of this came about."
"I am not guilty," Bell said. "I am going to continue to work hard on this campaign."
Two years ago, Bell enjoyed the spotlight that in recent weeks belonged to another Georgia family with a child on "American Idol." On Wednesday night, Diana DeGarmo, 16, of Snellville, Ga., finished as the runner-up to Fantasia Barrino in this year's "Idol" televised talent show. Bell's son, Guarini, was the runner-up to "American Idol" Kelly Clarkston in the 2002 debut season of the show.
Guarini lived in Atlanta until his mother, former CNN anchor Kathy Pepino, and Bell divorced and he moved with his mother to Doylestown, Pa., in the mid-1980s. Pepino later married retired physicist Jerry Guarini.
Someone who should know how to get away with it - no?
What a total goober...
lol
Must be a young waitress . I dont know any waitress who hasnt learned to handle a senior citizen looking for sex.
His 15 minutes are up.
In case anyone was wondering, since the article conveniently omitted the information, Bell is indeed a Democrat.
Like father, like son..he "sucked"...so did his son..
...How many more patrons...
Well well well, Justin's mother was a CNN anchor. This explains the media fawning over Justin as tho he was the greatest thing since sliced bread.
Guarini was DOA in season 2 of Idol before his CD was released. He sang his version of "Unchained Melody" the night following a magnificent performance of the song by then-final three finalist Clay Aiken. I have to think that Guarini knew he was cooked when he saw Aiken, who has at least twice Justin's talent, blow away the audience.
I just saw a report on this on the local Fox affiliate's local newscast (must be a blue moon, as I never watch local news). My comment to my wife was "whiskey. tango. foxtrot!"
This is a weird one. Glad he's long gone from the scene here, as a cop. Remember those Elton John / Michael Jackson-like uniforms he used to wear as ATL police chief?
All that was missing was Kennedy or Dodd to make a complete waitress sandwich.
Yeah, I remember.
Dude was a few bricks short of a ton.
Eldrin Bell (left) watches with his attorney, Maurice Bennett, at a court hearing Friday as Daphne Michelle Wynn accuses Bell of accosting her.
Some are insinuating that she might be angling either for discrediting Bell in his election, or (and to me more likely) looking for some kind of money.
Black conservative ping
If you want on (or off) of my black conservative ping list, please let me know via FREEPmail. (And no, you don't have to be black to be on the list!)
Extra warning: this is a high-volume ping list.
Are there any reports of other witnesses to this event? Or is it just a she said / he said thing? I'm guessing we don't know yet.
In any case, I don't have good impressions of Bell from his "Chief Generalissimo Bell" days at the City of ATL.
A true picture? Nope. Not yet. According to the news this morning, one witness has already come forward who says that the waitress said to Bell, "I'm going to get you," shortly after the so-called incident took place.
The judge found there was enough to go to trial, but it still sounds like a he said/she said kind of thing.
I don't have good impressions of Bell from his "Chief Generalissimo Bell" days at the City of ATL.
Neither do I; he was out the door just before I got here. I have met him once, maybe twice -- he seemed reasonable enough, but I dunno.
The writer makes it appear that Justin grew up in Atlanta, but his mother moved to Doylestown (which is very near my home) when he was just a toddler - mid 80's - and he is only in his early 20's now...... plus, his father would have been nearly 50 when he was born.......
I'd like to formally file a formal complaint on abuse of the language.
Oh, I remember that show. Clay sang the walls down on "Unchained Melody." Justin looked kind of embarrassed to be up there...
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.