The longtime morning-show host on the Seattle sports-radio station was arrested in August during an undercover prostitution sting in Bellevue. On Thursday he entered an Alford plea to patronizing a prostitute.
Mitch Levy, former morning-show host on KJR 950 AM, announced via Twitter on Friday that his 23-year tenure at the Seattle sports-radio station is officially over.
On Thursday Levy, a 50-year-old Bellevue resident, entered an Alford plea on a misdemeanor charge of patronizing a prostitute, nearly six weeks after he was arrested during an undercover prostitution sting in Bellevue, court records show.
In an Alford plea, defendants do not admit guilt but acknowledge there is sufficient evidence for a conviction. Such a plea is treated as a guilty plea by the courts.
Levy wasn’t sentenced to jail time but is on probation for 24 months, according to court records. He has undergone an HIV test, enrolled in a 10-week men’s accountability program for sex buyers and paid $1,974 in court costs and fees, the records show.
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Levy received a deferred sentence, which means that so long as he abides by all of the court’s conditions and isn’t charged with another crime during his probation period his prostitution conviction will be dismissed.
A phone message left for Levy’s attorney Friday afternoon was not immediately returned.
KJR’s programming director, Rich Moore, declined to say whether Levy was fired or resigned. In a prepared statement, Moore wrote:
“Mitch Levy is no longer part of the KJR Morning Show. We appreciate his time with us and wish him well. The morning show will continue as scheduled with co-host Dick Fain, Matt “Slickhawk” Mikolas, Hugh Millen, Mike Holmgren and other special guest hosts.”
Levy also announced his departure from the station Friday, even though he hasn’t been on the air for weeks:
“As most of you realize by now, my 23 year tenure at KJR is over. I am fully aware that I have disappointed so many — from the loved ones closest to me to all of you who have given me the opportunity to entertain you on weekday mornings. I’m deeply sorry,” Levy wrote in a tweet Friday afternoon.
After thanking colleagues and listeners, Levy wrote:
“Now, I must continue tending to me, my emotional demons, and my family. I also intend to get more involved in addressing some of the ills in our society and be a part of a positive force in the future. Some day I hope that you’ll allow me the opportunity to earn back your trust and respect.”
Levy was one of 110 men arrested during a weeklong undercover operation in late August.