Jan 7, 2008 3:05 pm US/Central
Philadelphia Anchor Off The Air After NYC Charge
Station Announces Alycia Lane Released From Her Contract Effective Immediately
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) ―
An Emmy Award-winning local television news anchor in Philadephia has been released from her contract one month after she pleaded not guilty to assaulting a New York City police officer.
CBS station KYW-TV announced Monday that Alycia Lane had been released from her contract effective immediately.
A New York City police officer alleged Lane hit her in the face around 2 a.m. on Dec. 16, 2007. Police offered no further information about the incident. The officer was treated for a cut at a hospital and released.
Lane's lawyer David Smith said his client "denies striking anyone."
"We're confident that after a full investigation of the facts she'll be cleared of these charges," Smith said.
The news anchor was arraigned on a felony charge of assaulting a police officer and pleaded not guilty, Smith said.
In May 2007, Lane made national headlines after she e-mailed vacation pictures of herself and friends wearing bikinis to NFL Network anchor Rich Eisen. The shots were intercepted by Eisen's wife, who responded with a snarky message to Lane.
Lane said the pictures were meant to be good fun between old friends, not an attempt to break up Eisen's marriage.
"After assessing the overall impact of a series of incidents resulting from judgments she has made, we have concluded that it would be impossible for Alycia to continue to report the news as she, herself, has become the focus of so many news stories," KYW-TV President and General Manager Michael Colleran said in a statement.
"We wish to make clear that we are not prejudging the outcome of the criminal case against Alycia that is pending in New York," Colleran said. "We understand that Alycia expects to be fully vindicated in that proceeding. We hope that is the case and we wish her the best in all her future endeavors."
Lane had been co-anchor of CBS 3's Eyewitness News at 6 and 11 p.m. on KYW since September 2003. Besides Lane's Philadelphia news role, she also has hosted KYW's annual "Best of Philly" specials and its "Holiday Traditions" special, for which she won a local Emmy in 2005.
KYW-TV is part of CBS Television Stations, a division of CBS Corporation.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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