Posted on 08/10/2004 3:29:22 PM PDT by swilhelm73
INDIANAPOLIS -- Seven more people have told investigators they were victims of a scam in which an Indianapolis man allegedly pretended to be a radio personality to get people to remove their clothes.
Investigators on Friday filed 14 new felony charges against 40-year-old Richard Brown, officials said.
Brown, who was arrested in connection with the alleged scam July 29, already faced three counts each of criminal confinement and identity deception.
Police said Brown called male employees of area restaurants pretending to be a staff member of WNOU, 93.1 FM (RadioNow). He is accused of telling them to come to his Fletcher Street home for a chance to win a new car or $50,000.
Once they got to the home, Brown told them to remove their clothing, police said.
Brown was on home detention at the time for a recent criminal confinement conviction, officials said.
Brown is currently serving the remainder of his sentence for this previous conviction in jail, police said. He will be held with bond set at $115,000 after the completion of this sentence in mid-August, pending a trial on the new charges, police said.
State police believe other people might have been victimized but too embarrassed to come forward. In a press release Friday, state police Detective Ryan Harmon urged those people to speak out.
"With the help of each victim, we can build a case to successfully prosecute Richard Brown and keep him from engaging in this practice again for a long time," Harmon ssaid.
Police ask anyone who may have been a victim of the alleged scam to call Harmon at (317) 899-8577.
The odd thing is, this is not too far off the stuff that radio DJs in the area do.
As they should be!!
And they took their clothes off, now I know why they have to have signs in resturant restrooms telling employees that after they use the toilet, they must wash their ahnds.
i can't believe that what the guy did was a felony. Get real! It was a hoax to stupid people ... plain and simple. They should give him a reality TV show.
This brings to mind the Seinfeld episode when Kramer takes the Merv Griffin set out of a dumpster and assembles it in his apartment, essentially turning his crib into a talk-show set.
Everyone sits around talking as though it's a real talk show. He has Jim Fowler on (host from Wild Kingdom) who asks, "Where are the cameras?"
Why on earth would people go to this guy's house under the pretext of him being with a radio station, and then take their clothes off as though it's an on-air stunt.
Didn't ANY of them ask, "Where's the radio equipment?"
I agree... how is his crime a felony? ...reads to me that the guy should be an addition to the "Jackass" program on MTV. Jerry Springer was always open with the fact that his program was his audience...not those he placed on stage.
At least that's what he told me.
And they took their clothes off ? Priceless.
In fairness the only felony here is that people were stupid enough to do it.
How can someone who willingly took off their clothes in public when they thought they might win money, feel victimised when there was no cash crop at the end of it?
Stupid is, as stupid does.
Prostitutes commit a felony because they ask to be paid to take their clothes off.
These 'victims' should thank this guy that it was a hoax. Otherwise they'd be prostituting themselves for money!
Well...stripping's legality varies from place to place, but it is legal throughout most of the US. Prostitution, which is a wee bit different, is illegal almost everywhere.
Well, my comment was tongue in cheek.
But you know what I mean.
If I'm not the type of person who would take my clothes off in public, I sure as hell wouldn't compromise my morals to do it for a radio show cash prize. I'd be prostituting my morals.
If I was the type to do it on a whim. Why would I be so affronted by a hoax?
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