A Sonoma County radio anchor and news reporter is facing child molestation charges, accused of sexually touching a young girl over three years.
Ron Kirk, 49, whose real name is Ron Kirk Kuhlmeyer, of Santa Rosa, pleaded not guilty to 15 felony charges on Monday in Sonoma County Superior Court.
Kirk was a radio co-anchor and reporter for radio stations KZST and KJZY for about 3? years, the stations' general manager, Tom Skinner, said. Before that, Kirk was a reporter with KSRO radio for about three years.
Skinner said Kirk called the station to resign, effective Wednesday, following his Oct. 23 arrest.
Kirk, who is a married father, is being held on $335,000 bail in the Sonoma County Jail.
The alleged victim is not a family member, Santa Rosa Police Sgt. John Snetsinger said. She is not someone Kirk had contact with through his reporting job, Skinner said.
KZST and KJZY ranked first and sixth respectively among listeners 12 and older in the Santa Rosa radio market in the spring Arbitron ratings report, according to the Web site Radio-Info.com
According to a criminal complaint filed Oct. 25, Kirk is believed to have engaged in "substantial sexual conduct" with the girl from July 2004 through August 2006, beginning when she was 12 years old.
Fourteen charges alleging lewd conduct stem from sexual touching after she turned 14 in August 2006, according to the complaint. The complaint said the conduct continued through September.
Deputy District Attorney Joan Risse said Kirk "certainly would face substantial prison time" if he is convicted.
Snetsinger said Santa Rosa police received a report Sept. 25 about the girl's allegations from a "mandated reporter," a person in authority such as a teacher or health worker who is obligated by state law to alert police when there is evidence of child sexual abuse.
"From there, we conducted interviews and determined we had probable cause to arrest him on the charges," Snetsinger said.
Officers searched Kirk's home Oct. 22 and he was arrested the following day when he came into the Police Department for questioning.
Santa Rosa police didn't announce the arrest at the time. Snetsinger said he didn't feel the public was in danger or that releasing the information would help the investigation.
The most serious charge against Kirk alleges substantial sexual conduct and carries a maximum prison sentence of 16 years. The other charges carry top terms of three years each.
Substantial sexual conduct is broadly defined legally and can range from rape to touching over or under the clothing, Snetsinger said.
No rape, force or violent assault is alleged in this case, he said. The charges allege repeated incidents of touching with sexual intent.
Snetsinger said detectives are now sifting through other potential evidence and interviewing other potential witnesses. He said there is no indication that there are other possible victims, though that hasn't been ruled out.
Kirk was represented in court by the Public Defender's Office. Representatives of the office didn't return a call seeking comment.
You can reach Staff Writer Lori A. Carter at 568-5312 or lori.carter@pressdemocrat.com.
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