Features

DJ suspended after joking about abduction

The Associated Press
Monday July 29, 2002

SAN JOSE – A San Jose radio personality has been suspended after joking about the kidnapping of a 7-year-old Philadelphia girl. 

The girl escaped her kidnappers by chewing through duct tape. 

After a sidekick read the news item Wednesday about the girl, shock jock “Mikey” Esparza of KSJO-FM said, “That’s why I don’t use duct tape. That’s why I use nylon rope.” 

Esparza continued after a commercial break, suggesting kidnappers buy tarps and use lye to dispose of murder victims. 

The station suspended Esparza Thursday for a week and broadcast a formal apology to listeners. 

Esparza’s show, “The Mikey Show” is also heard in San Diego and Dallas. 

The station is owned by Clear Channel Communications. 

“The station’s position is that we were not comfortable with the comment,” said Joe Cunningham, Clear Channel’s vice president and general manager. “We don’t condone comments that make light of, or try to find humor in something of that particular nature.” 

Santa Cruz-based Media Watch has filed a complaint with the Federal Communications Commission.