Former M-A radio manager charged with sexual assault Former M-A radio manager charged with sexual assault (May 25, 2005)

Menlo Park resident Frank Spinetta, who was convicted in 1997 of embezzling $92,000 from Menlo-Atherton High School's radio station, has now been charged with sexually assaulting a 13-year-old boy.

Giuliano "Frank" Spinetta, 64, met the boy on the Internet and set up a meeting place in Sunnyvale, where the incident occurred, said Capt. Craig Farley of the Sunnyvale Department of Public Safety. Mr. Spinetta was subsequently arrested May 18 and charged with aggravated sexual assault.

Capt. Farley would not give further details on the assault but said Sunnyvale detectives think Mr. Spinetta may have had other young victims. Anyone with information on the matter is asked to contact Sunnyvale's detective bureau at (408) 730-7120.

Mr. Spinetta, who once managed KCEA-FM, M-A's Big Band station, pleaded no contest in 1997 to felony charges of misappropriation of public funds and state tax evasion. As part of a plea bargain, additional charges were dropped, including a misdemeanor charge of possessing child pornography.

Investigators said Mr. Spinetta used some of the embezzled money to pay for flying lessons and car insurance for a student volunteer at KCEA.

Mr. Spinetta served a six-month sentence from home wearing an electronic bracelet, a sentence a judge had recommended because of Mr. Spinetta's need to care for his elderly, blind mother.

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