Andrew Z fired by WVKS-FM

12/16/2010

For more than a month Andrew Zepeda has been on leave from his job as morning host on WVKS-FM (92.5) while facing charges stemming from the October burglary of his former restaurant, Andrew Z's Sports Pizzeria, at Levis Commons in Perrysburg.

On Wednesday Mr. Zepeda confirmed on his Facebook account that he has been fired by station management.

“As listeners, you can tell today KISS FM made it official and has decided not to renew my contract which is up at the end of the month. We had 5 great years at KISS FM taking the show from some of its lowest ratings ever to its highest ratings in over 10 years! It's disappointing that the station has decided to not stand by me. All I can ask is that you continue to let management know your displeasure.”

Mr. Zepeda, 41, of Perrysburg was indicted last month along with his uncle, Paul Zepeda, 54, of Maumee for complicity to breaking and entering, a fifth-degree felony that carries a maximum penalty of 12 months in prison.

The two are accused of arranging a break-in at the shuttered restaurant between Oct. 15 and 18 by hiring a man to cut through “the drywall between the mechanical room and the business with the purpose to commit a theft offense,” according to Perrysburg Municipal Court records.

On Dec. 10, Zepeda requested treatment for alcohol consumption instead of entering a plea at his arraignment in Wood County Common Pleas Court on charges stemming from the burglary.

Through his lawyer, he requested an intervention in lieu of conviction, which allows a court to permit a criminal defendant to enter a treatment program instead of going through a trial and conviction, and emerge with a clean record.

Andy Stuart, general manager of WVKS, declined to comment for the story.

Contact Kirk Baird at kbaird@theblade.com at 419-724-6734.