Man Dies Before Cathedral-Sex Court Date

Las Vegas Sun ^ | 9/30/03 | Samuel Mall

[marshmallow]

NEW YORK (AP) - A man who was to appear in court Tuesday on charges of having sex with his girlfriend inside St. Patrick's Cathedral as part of a radio show stunt has died at his home in Virginia, his lawyer said.

Brian Florence, 38, died last Thursday of a heart attack in Alexandria, said the couple's lawyer, Maranda Fritz. She said the funeral was Monday, and his co-defendant and girlfriend, Loretta Lynn Harper, 36, is "still in a state of shock."

The judge adjourned the case until Nov. 6. Fritz said her clients had expected to plead guilty to a minor charge and not receive any jail time.

A third man involved in the case, radio producer Paul Mercurio, 43, pleaded guilty earlier in the day to disorderly conduct. The judge ordered him to perform seven days of community service.

Authorities said a police officer was listening to the "Opie and Anthony Show" in August 2002 when he heard Mercurio say on the air that he was speaking on a cell phone while watching the couple in the cathedral. The officer arrested Florence and Harper shortly afterward in a vestibule a few feet from worshippers.

The stunt had been part of a regular feature in which couples could win prizes for having sex in public places.

The couple's alleged antics inside the landmark cathedral resulted in WNEW-FM firing DJs Greg "Opie" Hughes and Anthony Cumia.

[marshmallow]

He still has a date before a judge.

[martin_fierro]

ZOT in action.

[Betty Jane]

My grandmother used to say after someone did something wrong, "God will get you for that". I guess God got him.

[azhenfud]

"He still has a date before a judge."

Trial date was moved up a touch.

[funkywbr]

I guess God has now spared him a public em-bare-ass-ment!~}

[cweese]

...he hath been smitten from the earth...

[paulklenk]

Smart grandmother.

[Semper Paratus]

Skipped the trial and was moved straight to The Sentencing Hearing.

[clintonh8r]

Loretta: You're next! (inevitably)

[neverdem]

The wages of sin.

[laconic]

Vengeance is mine saith the Lord . . .

[week 71]

If I were his partner I'd be getting my house in order

[azhenfud]

Hey Loretta!
You can bet I'm gonna get ya.
Hey Loretta!
I won't leave you alone.

Hey Loretta!
Brian's time's been called, he now knows better.
Babe you're next, you can't run, you know you'll soon be gone..

[goodnesswins]

"The stunt had been part of a regular feature in which couples could win prizes for having sex in public places."

If I were the promoters....I'd be doing a little thinking (and praying)....

[Nonstatist]

He should have taken better care of himself. A different type of workout, perhaps.

[TADSLOS]

He's probably some demon's eternally hot prison b**ch right now.

[river rat]

Don't mess with THE man....

Semper Fi

[river rat]

I'll bet that the clymers who thought this "production" in church was funny -- think this sudden TIMELY death was just a coincidence...

Semper Fi

[big'ol_freeper]

God will not be mocked....