Fox 5 producer snared in sexual predator sting in Arizona
Originally posted Friday, August 9, 2019 by RODNEY HO/rho@ajc.com on his AJC Radio & TV Talk blog
A former Fox 5 executive producer Robert Stevenson was arrested in Tucson, Ariz. as part of a sting that captured 21 men seeking to have sex with minors.
Stevenson, 43, was arrested on Friday, August 2 and resigned from Fox 5 the same day. According to a story posted by Fox 5 (WAGA-TV), he had worked there less than six months.
In "To Catch a Predator" fashion, law enforcement in Arizona from a dozen agencies posed as juveniles in chat rooms and agreed to meet the adult men in person in Tucson to engage in sexual acts, the Tuscon police told the Arizona Daily Star. This sting occurred over five days ending August 2 when the arrests were made.
FTVLive, a media gossip website focused on local TV, was the first to specifically point out the Fox 5 employee.
On his LinkedIn page - which has been removed but some basic info remains via Google - Stevenson describes himself as a “20-year broadcast & digital communications veteran.”
His Twitter - which has also been removed recently - remains in cached form via Google. His own description on Twitter noted he had previously worked in Birmingham, Huntsville, Memphis, Tuscaloosa, Peoria, Ill. and Rockford, Ill. He also said he graduated Columbia College in Chicago. He had 1,225 followers and his last Tweet was around July 8, more than three weeks before his arrest.
About the Author
Rodney Ho writes about entertainment for The Atlanta Journal-Constitution including TV, radio, film, comedy and all things in between. A native New Yorker, he has covered education at The Virginian-Pilot, small business for The Wall Street Journal and a host of beats at the AJC over 20-plus years. He loves tennis, pop culture & seeing live events.
