Wilhite House Arrest Lifted     6-16-11
It's been a bit over a year since WELE-AM 1380 owner Doug Wilhite was sentenced to two years of house arrest and 13 years' probation for child abuse and neglect. On Wednesday, Wilhite, 58, appeared before Circuit Judge R. Michael Hutcheson, once again. Wilhite explained to the court that he has suffered a stroke and seizures since he was sentenced. Wilhite's Daytona Beach attorney, David Damore successfully argued to end the house arrest portion of Wilhite's sentence. Wilhite has completed all requirements of house arrest, and has been in full compliance, probation officials said. Wilhite will remain on probation for 13 years. 


Radio Station Owner Charged 
On July 9, 2009, the owner of WELE-AM 1380 was arrested at his home (which Wilhite named "Rhosymedre" after a Welsh hymn that translates as "lovely" in English). The 56 year-old, was charged with sexually assaulting, on multiple occasions, a teen-age boy living at the couple's Ormond Beach home. Volusia County Sheriff's office investigators say Wilhite held parties at his home with teenage boys. Investigators also stated that Wilhite encouraged them to have sex with each other, and that Wilhite had sex with the male victim more than 12 times in 2009. Wilhite told investigators he is a nudist and that he allowed the victim and his friend to be naked around him and that he allowed them to "have sex all over the residence." He also told investigators that "on numerous occasions he would entice the children to have sex on the pool table," the report said. Wilhite also said he provided "the best equipment for taking video and digital photographs" if the victim and his friends wanted to make pornographic movies or provide images of themselves naked, investigators said. Wilhite will be tried on two counts stemming from the July arrest; "sexual activity while in familial or custodial authority" and "Lewd and lascivious molestation". Circuit Judge R. Michael Hutcheson will preside. 

                                                            Click on photos to listen to audio reports
                                                                                                                             Audio courtesy of Central Florida News 13                        Audio courtesy of WESH-TV 2 Orlando                          Audio courtesy of WKMG-TV



   Audio courtesy of Florida News Network      

      
      
  Audio courtesy of WDBO-AM 580



11-9-09 Courtesy of Marc Bernier Show
WNDB-AM 1150


 
      11-9-09 Courtesy of Marc Bernier Show
WNDB-AM 1150

Brother Defends Wilhite In Sex Case
Dan Wilhite, brother of station WELE-AM 1380 owner Doug Wilhite came to the defense of his brother. Dan told WKMG-TV news in July, that his brother is the real victim in the case. He said the teen is seeking revenge. He also told Local 6 that the 15-year-old threatened his brother. According to Dan Wilhite, the teen said he would "take (Doug) down" if (Doug) didn't do certain things. Dan Wilhite said his brother didn't comply with the teen's demands and that the teen made up the allegations as revenge.


Big John On The Wilhite Arrest
Former Volusia County Council member Big John, hosts a program on WELE-AM 1380. On the day following Wilhite's arrest announced "Today we have to start off on a somber note. Our leader, Doug Wilhite Sr., has been arrested by the sheriff's department."  John told the Orlando Sentinel "I absolutely have confidence in Doug Wilhite being innocent until proven guilty and I think it will be a hard charge to prove." On July 13, 2009 Big John and Doug Wilhite and Pastor Charles Melvin of the Ormond Beach Union Church discuss the case on WELE. 


More Trouble For Wilhite    11-10-09
WELE-AM 1380 owner Doug Wilhite is now being sued by the parents of two 14-year old girls. The lawsuits state the girls were shown pornography and encouraged to have sex with a 15-year-old boy in his home. The families are seeking damages for mental anguish and emotional distress. Attorney Kim Bouck told the Daytona News Journal "My clients are both in treatment for this, and they're having significant issues." The separate lawsuits filed late last week seek unspecified amounts in damages. In these complaints, Wilhite's wife, Sherry, is also named as a defendant and is accused of not controlling the behavior of a teenage boy who lived in their home, engaged in sex acts with the girls while Doug Wilhite "would watch and sexually gratify himself". Wilhite has 20 days to respond to the suits.


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