Former radio host arraigned for rape

LYNN – The former WRKO radio host who called Lynn “a dump” on-air was arraigned in Manhattan Criminal Court on rape charges Friday.Reese Hopkins was charged and ordered held without bail in Malden District Court Thursday on an outstanding criminal warrant for rape out of New York City.Manhattan District Attorney’s Office Spokesman Jennifer Kushner said Hopkins was charged with rape in the first degree and rape in the second degree.Hopkins remained in custody Friday on $300,000 bail bond or $100,000 cash.The next court date is scheduled for Nov. 19 at New York Supreme Court in Manhattan.Kushner said according to New York Law, first-degree rape is defined as a person 18 years old or older having sexual intercourse with someone who is younger than 13 years old. Second-degree rape is defined as a person 18 years or older having sexual intercourse with a person who is younger than 15 years old.The 39-year-old host caused an uproar July 10 when he was speaking about state aid to municipalities and referred to Lynn as “a dump.”Ward 7 City Councilor Rick Ford called a station producer and left an angry voicemail message inviting Hopkins to a boxing match. The message, which included Ford saying he wanted to “pound his head in,” referring to Hopkins, was broadcast to local media outlets the same day it was recorded.Hopkins pleaded innocent in Malden District Court on the fugitive from justice warrant charge on Thursday.Attorney Paul Mishkin, who represented Hopkins at his extradition hearing in Malden, said the charges against Hopkins stem from an alleged Oct. 1, 2004 incident.Mishkin said the girl who made the allegations was 12-years old at the time the alleged incident occurred but she didn’t come forward until four years later.”The young lady was a former playmate of his girlfriend’s daughter,” he said. “The same girl accused Hopkins of molesting his girlfriend’s daughter. Social Services investigated and that was proven to be unfounded.”Mishkin said at the time of the alleged incident the alleged victim should have been in school and Hopkins was not even in New York.”There appears to be a possible double alibi,” he said. “This just doesn’t pass the smell test.”In a cost-cutting measure, parent company Entercom laid off 10 employees, including Hopkins, from its Boston-owned stations WRKO-AM and WAAF-FM last week.