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WTVT Boss Takes Leave Of Absence Following Arrest At Adult Business

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By VALERIE KALFRIN | The Tampa Tribune

Published: May 19, 2008

Ezequiel Santiago

TAMPA - The vice president and general manager of WTVT, Channel 13, has taken a leave of absence after police said they found him masturbating at an adult business.

Robert Linger, 49, of Lutz is free on $750 bail. Tampa police charged him Friday with lewd and lascivious behavior and exposure of sexual organs, both misdemeanors, records show.

His employer on Monday referred questions about Linger to Erica Keane, a New York spokeswoman for Fox Broadcasting Co., which owns WTVT. She said Linger is on a leave of absence and has worked at the Tampa station for 18 years. She declined further comment.

Police arrested Linger and five other men during an undercover operation about 11:15 p.m. Friday at Fantasy Land, an adult business at 4715 N. Lois Ave. According to police, Linger and the other men formed a circle around male undercover officers and began masturbating. Linger also was seen masturbating as he sat on a couch, police said.

Fantasy Land, described in the affidavit as a movie theater, has been the scene of police activity in the past. Tampa police records show roughly 30 reports related to the business since May 2006, including drug and prostitution incidents, vehicle crashes and unspecified misdemeanor charges.

Police in 2002 charged Mark Dennis, listed in public records as a cashier at Fantasy Land, with renting space for the purpose of prostitution, a misdemeanor. Dennis pleaded no contest; an adjudication of guilt was withheld, court records show.

Reporter Valerie Kalfrin can be reached at (813) 259-7800 or vkalfrin@tampatrib.com.

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