Radio Host to Be Charged in Rape Case

Spanish-language radio personality Hector Rocksetti is scheduled to appear in a Burbank courtroom this morning to answer charges that he raped a 14-year-old girl after promising her a broadcasting job and to boost her singing career.

The 38-year-old radio host, whose real name is Firmo Rossetti, was booked at the Burbank jail Thursday on 10 felony counts and a misdemeanor, including child molestation, rape and oral copulation.

He is being held in lieu of $1.5-million bail.

Rossetti, who works the morning show for Century City-based Viva 107.1 (KLYY-FM), surrendered to authorities Wednesday afternoon at the Burbank police station. He had gone there voluntarily to be questioned in connection with the rape investigation, Lt. Tim Stehr said.

Rossetti is accused of twice assaulting the girl, on Aug. 25 and on Jan. 2.

In the first alleged incident, Rossetti picked the teen up from her Long Beach home, saying he would take her to a recording session. Instead, he had sex with her in his car and again at his apartment in the 1500 block of Catalina Street in Burbank, police said. Five months later, he again forced himself on the girl while the two were in his apartment, Stehr said.

In addition to offering to help the girl, Rossetti reportedly told her he would help her father get a job or start a business, Stehr said.

“We’d like to find out if there are other victims, and, if there are, for them to come forward,” Stehr said.

Michael Stephen, 48, a neighbor of Rossetti, said Wednesday night he saw police remove bedding, boxes, a camera case and metal suitcases from the radio host’s apartment. Police also towed a pickup truck thought to belong to Rossetti, Stephen said.

Officials at Viva 107.1, owned by New York-based Big City Radio, would not comment Thursday on the allegations against the radio host.

Viva program director Fernando Perez said Rossetti previously worked at KRTO-FM (98.3).

As Viva’s host during the morning weekday commute--the most critical ratings shift in radio--he immediately began spinning Spanish contemporary music, pop, rock and tropical tunes, Perez said.

Viva listeners, who were told Thursday morning about the allegations against Rossetti, responded by calling in with questions as well as support for both Rossetti and the station, Perez said.

Jacqueline Madrigal, editor in chief of Radio y Musica Magazine, said Rossetti is known for getting young listeners hooked on contemporary pop music rather than more traditional sounds.

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Times staff writers Dana Calvo and Jennifer Kelleher contributed to this report.