Former WRKO talk show host held on rape charge
By Brian R. Ballou, Globe Staff
MALDEN -- A former talk show host at WRKO-AM is being extradited to New York City to face charges that he raped a 12-year-old girl there four years ago.
Reese Hopkins, 39, was arrested Wednesday night at his Malden home before heading out to dinner with his longtime girlfriend, said his lawyer, Paul Mishkin.
Hopkins has cooperated with police and "hasn't made any efforts to avoid prosecution," Mishkin said.
Hopkins was arraigned today on a fugitive from justice charge at the Malden District Court. As he was taken in handcuffs to a Middlesex County Sheriff's van, Hopkins said that the allegations dated to October 2004, when he was living in Manchester, Conn.
"I couldn't have been there," said Hopkins, who looked tired and disheveled, wearing a white sweatshirt and blue jeans.
New York police said the victim was visiting a friend's apartment on Manhattan's Upper East Side when Hopkins raped her.
Hopkins lived at the apartment with his girlfriend, the mother of the victim's friend, police said. The alleged victim, now 16, told her mother about the incident this past summer and the mother immediately alerted police in New York's 19th Precinct.
The conservative talk show host grew up in Queens. He was laid off last week from WRKO during a round of budget cuts.
Hopkins's girlfriend of seven years stood outside the courthouse this morning with his attorney.
"Somebody has a vendetta against him," she said, while declining to give her name.



Did he ever end up having his boxing match against some city councilor of Lynn?
I guess RKO decided it would be better to keep a convicted felon with no ratings on air then an accused rapist. Makes sense.
Good Luck, Reese! You are missed!!!
Good Luck, Reese! You are missed!!!
What's worse...an alleged rapist or the copy editing for this article?
Been hanging out with Bob Gamere??
Reese, I know a few nifty halfway houses in the City of Sin that you could be released to, after you are finished doin' the hard time. But really, what more could we expect from a New York blow-in wannabe blowhard fraud.
Yeah... vendetta says "long-time girlfriend". That's what they all say. Reese, Even the "thugs" you decry on your show don't mess with kids.
Bad... bad... bad
I can't believe it's true! I miss Reese so much! I won't listen to WRKO anymore.
Another conservative demonstrating upstanding moral character.
Hey folks, what ever happened to innocent until proven guilty???
Sounds like there's more to this story than meets the eye...jvp
First he lies about his college degree, now this. First priests; then firemen; now talk show hosts! Who's gonna disappoint me next? These types give regular criminals a bad name.
Hope he doesn't get the same slap on the wrist as his colleague WRKO talk host Felon Fineran. Howie's a kook also. What would Jerry Willliams say?
WHAT'S UP WITH WRKO? HATEFULL HOWIE,FELON FUNERAN,REESE.
TIME TO CLEAN HOUSE
There's good money in being a right wing jerk on the air. Reese wasn't bad though. In another few years he may have even risen to the level of say...Michael Savage?
Finneran may be a felon, but he's the only voice of reason on that crappy station. He is kind and fair to all who call in, regardless if his opinion is contrary to that of the caller. He treats people with respect and is the only reason I listen to WRKO at all. Laura Ingram, Rush Limbaugh and Howie? Puuuuhhleeeze. I'd rather pull my eye lashes out one by one than listen to their biased conservative drivel.
You shall return!
Next to Rush you are great.
Speakin about Howie Carr. Not only is he a drunk who beat his first wife... Ask him why he had his divorce records from his first marriage sealed... But his current wife Kathy had an affair with former Heavyweight Boxing Champ Riddick Bowe
I can just imagine how that conversation went. “Oh Mom”. “Yes Dear” “I forgot to mention this. It must have completely escaped my mind. I can be such a space cadet. Reese raped me four years ago.”
And people actually believe this. This is just like the Duke case. A woman cries rape and before any evidence is collected or any facts checked… GUILTY. I hope he counter sues this woman for defamation of character. I don’t personally agree with many of his stances but this is such a bunch of bull.
In Total Shock !! about hearing this news and after enjoying listening to Reese for well over a year now......Sorry, but I will believe he is innocent until proven guilty !! and I think it 's horrible !! that because of people's political and probably racist beliefs that they think this guy is autoimatcally guilty !!....Makes me sick !!!.........Reese "LIKE HOWIE" made my days at work soooo more enjoyable and less stressfull because IMO he was part talk show and part comedian and that's what make's these 2 guys sooooo special and much better than most talk show host........So if you add Depitro "who was dumped by WRKO a couple of years ago" They have now dumped 2 guys that I really loved listening and laughing to during my mornings at work and I will no longer listen to WRKO in the morning anymore.
Wow huh, now THIS conservative has some sick sexual tendencies? Not a surprise to me with the other right wing fanatics and freaks. Lynn is far too good for this sick piece of scum. He called Lynn a dump and a horrible place to live, what about his home front? I wonder what his daughter thinks or she was probably well trained not speak about those times Daddy touched her inappropriatley. Also what about his demented double talk about the MBTA needing more security for females, yeah because he is the one on the prowl for jailbait. LYNN would not want your kind and hope you get convicted!
I think Reese has been given a bum rap. I like Laura but miss Reese's special personality. I am disabled and have WRKO on night and day. Long live Michael Savage too!
This blogger might want to review your comment before posting it.
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