TV station sued over news reports involving preacher’s activities

A preacher and his wife have filed a federal defamation lawsuit against WPMI-TV, station news anchor Peter Albrecht and reporter-anchor Mike Rush.

The lawsuit demands $1 million and an on-air apology to Orlando and Glynis Bethel of Loxley, who say the station maligned them.

The Bethels said in court filings that they contacted Rush and at least two other reporters to point out what they felt were inaccuracies.

“Rush not only acknowledged that he was aware of the plaintiffs’ dissatisfaction with the broadcasts but also told Glynis Bethel that he (Rush) was a Christian and that she and her husband were manipulating or twisting the scriptures and were communicating their own interpretations of the Bible,” the lawsuit states.

Rush did not return a telephone call seeking comment Tuesday. Albrecht said he knew about the lawsuit but had not seen it and had not had any conversations with the Bethels about their complaints.

Sharon Moloney, WMPI’s general manager, said by e-mail that the station’s news accounts were correct. “We absolutely stand by” the stories, she said.

Among other complaints, the Bethels’ lawsuit claims WPMI erred in at least three newscasts when it reported Bethel was arrested for causing a disturbance at a funeral.

It also took issue with some of WPMI’s stories about Orlando Bethel’s 2002 disorderly conduct arrest at the Loxley Christmas parade, which he had said he planned to attend dressed as Santa Claus wearing a demonic mask. Police arrested him when he arrived and issued his wife a parking ticket.

Someone dressed in the same costume attended the 2003 Christmas parade in Loxley. Paradegoers and police did not appear to take much notice.

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