Fired Channel 10 anchor Charles Perez wins two-year restraining order against ex-partner

BY STEVE ROTHAUS, [email protected]

Charles Perez, former anchor for WPLG-ABC 10, on Tuesday won a two-year restraining order against his ex-partner, whom he believes caused a chain of events that got him fired this month from the Post-Newsweek station.

Miami-Dade County Judge Rosa Figarola ordered Dennis Ricardo Peña to stay at least 500 feet away from Perez for the next 24 months. Peña, an unemployed paralegal, has 30 days to appeal and said "of course'' he will.

Perez, 46, testified in domestic violence court that he was afraid of Peña, 42, claiming that his ex-partner had threatened and sexually assaulted him.

Peña denied harming Perez, who did not file a complaint with the police.

The two men began an on-again, off-again relationship in February 2006 in New York, while Perez was a TV anchor at WABC. Peña moved to South Florida when Perez accepted a reporting-anchor job at Channel 10. They broke up in August 2008, a few months after Perez succeeded Dwight Lauderdale as weeknight news anchor with Laurie Jennings.

Perez and Peña co-own a South Beach condo. Perez bought it for $435,000 in October 2006 and later added Peña to the title with "joint rights of survivorship."

Perez told Figarola that he still owes about $435,000 on the Sunset Harbor condo in Miami Beach and that it is now assessed for tax purposes at under $294,000. Figarola awarded possession of the unit to Perez, who said he plans to give it "back to the bank."

Since their final breakup a year ago, Perez and Peña have fought over ownership. Perez told Figarola that Peña threatened him physically and said he would ruin him professionally.

On March 16, someone distributed a personal e-mail between Perez and a Los Angeles family therapist to everyone in the anchor's electronic address book, including his employers. In the e-mail, Perez said he needed counseling for gender identity issues.

Perez believes Peña sent everyone the e-mail. Peña denies it.

The feud became public in April, when Miami Herald columnist Joan Fleischman reported the domestic violence complaint.

In July, WPLG bumped Perez back to his old job, saying the change was a cost-cutting measure. Perez then filed a discrimination suit against the station, claiming Channel 10 demoted him because of his now-public sexual orientation. A few days after Perez complained to Miami-Dade's Equal Opportunity Board, WPLG fired him.

 

Photos by PETER ANDREW BOSCH / MIAMI HERALD STAFF

Comments

[who cares]

judging from these photos, i have a hard time believing that it was Perez and not Peña who had the gender identity issues.

[carlos]

OH Charles Charles Charles, what on Earth were you thinking with this guy?
Can't you do any better? Were you awed by the third leg or what?

Pathetic.

[tacnacs]

keep fighting charles. this guy is banking on his un-employed para-legal status. and yes the photos tell all about who has the gender identity crisis. maybe thats why hes un-employed.
keep your head high and believe in what your doing is the right thing. this is not the first gay divorce nor will it be the last. unfotunately yours is public and i for one am rooting for you.

[Danny Becktoll, Miami]

this young Turk may be the best ammunition his former employer shall require to make its case that Chaz's sizzling unraveling was indeed of his own doing and had little or nothing to do with what Channel 10 may or may not have opined about his sexual desires and leanings; Chaz's agent and counsel should have learned long ago that, perhaps, "no comment" might have been the better route to have travelled on for either judge, jury or perhaps an EEOC investigator will need little or no time to discern that the indictment Chaz. has made of his current employer holds precious little in the form of credibility; expect the Chaz/Dennis battle to linger on far longer that any official review or a court case against the television station, not to mention what promises to be a savory feeding frenzy for the duo's respective barristers and Chaz's former media colleagues over the Sunset Harbor condo spat.

[newsjunkiejam]

I guess it's true. Opposites DO attact! One is SOOO cute and the other...

[Patience]

Ch 10 doesn't have a leg to stand on when they claim it was a cost cutting move to reduce Perez's airtime, had that been the case they would have challenged his contract.He and Laurie Jennings were very good together at their job and Ch 10 should hae risen abov the discriminatory gossip and left that team alone.
I miss Charles and am quite hesitant to watch 10 now because of the small minds running the show.

[Bonefish]

How did we get this screwed up?

[O lopez]

Charles Perez - you are a great anchor who is, unfortunately, now part of the "news". Remember that there will always be another "scandal" hitting the headlines and you'll be out of the spotlight soon. Keep your chin up. You did nothing wrong. If you weren't a celebrity this wouldn't be headline news. Channel 10 should be ashamed of the way they treated you and deserve to be sued!

[JASMINE]

this is a homosexual relationship and it has nothing to do with gender identity issues. Perez is just not comfortable with his sexual orientation.

[Turtle]

Charles met this guy in 2006. Within 2 years he started co-mingling property and finances with Dennis. This shows bad judgement on Charle's part. Mid-life crisis?

We all know those bitchy-queens that have no problem wrecking other people's lives.
God help you Charles, your going to need it.

[ftlaudcarl]

JASMINE: What does this have to do with Charles Perez being comfortable with his sexual orientation? Nothing!!

SUPPORT CHARLES PEREZ AND GLBT RIGHTS. DO NOT WATCH WPLG LOCAL 10 NEWS.

[fredb]

It is good that channel 10 got rid of someone like this that leads an immoral life. People that participate in homosexual sex acts like him should be put in mental institutions.

[ftlaudcarl]

fredb and his hateful, homophobic, hypocritical, bible thumping garbage is back. fredb should be put in a mental institution and left to rot there for the rest of his miserable judgemental life. judge not lest ye be judged fredb...

[lorenzo epps]

Charles Perez is a LIAR! Channel 10 is not against him...and he knows he has a clause somewhere in his contract regarding morals...he new the game..gambled...and lost.....lover/husband/friend...doesn't matter...your computer should have been locked....I believe you enlisted your lover's help...got him to send the email...in the hopes that you would get terminated...and you could file a lawsuit...to pay the mortgage you know you could no longer afford! As I said...Charles Perez is a liar...and when he is caught.....you will go the way of Bill Kamal...PRISON B****!

[fredb]

Experts agree that people who participate in "homosexual" acts such as Perez are either below average intelligence which prevents them from realizing the errors in their way or mentally disordered. Either way Perez should be sent to an institution to correct his immoral ways.

[ftlaudcarl]

lorenzo epps: unless you have some proof to support what you say you should shut your big vile mouth. Why are you comparing Charles Perez to Bill Kamal? Charles Perez is nothing like Bill Kamal. Charles is a sincere,respectable professional that had a dispute with his parasitic ex partner and is now the victim of discrimination based on sexual orientation. Bill Kamal was a pedophile. Where are the similarities? You are a moron and your homophobia is showing...

SUPPORT CHARLES PEREZ AND LGBT RIGHTS. DO NOT WATCH WPLG LOCAL 10 NEWS.

[ftlaudcarl]

fredb: Why don't you crawl back under the rock that you slithered out from. I bet you wouldn't be saying those evil, homphobic things if we were face to face because you are a coward. You can only spread your hatred and homophobia when you are hidden behind a computer keyboard. When people are as homophobic as you are it is usually because they are fighting extreme homosexual tendencies. Is that you fredb? Are you out in the public restrooms having sex with men while accusing respectable, hard working homosexuals like Charles Perez and me of being immoral. You are the one who needs to be institutionalized you pathetic little weisel. Hopefully you will eventually spout your hatred to the wrong person and you will be murdered. I wish I could be the one to do it or at least be there to see it.

SUPPORT CHARLES PEREZ AND LGBT RIGHTS. DO NOT WATCH WPLG LOCAL 10 NEWS.

[fredb]

I and all of my friends now watch channel 10 exclusively because of their higher moral standards and we even leave the TV on that channel while away to help ratings.

This carl guy appears to be one of the ones that engages in these homosexual sex acts as has been demonstrated by his emotional and mental instability. While I try to avoid violence now that I have children of my own to set a good example we did have a lot of fun in the past giving a good beating to those that admitted or were suspected of participating in "homosexual" sex acts growing up which was fun at the time, but looking back I hope it encouraged those people to correct their ways or seek mental help to correct their ways. Now I just encourage these mentally disordered or below average intelligence individuals to seek mental help.

[JJMIA]

Fredb you sound like a real idiot!!! No one is interested in your words of hate and intolerance of others different from ourselves. If anyone here needs a beating. You should take a look at the man in your mirror. It is a shame that someone with your type of bigotry and hatred is allowed to have children. As for Charles Perez. It is a shame what his ex partner has done to him. He is an excellent anchor and reporter. I though he and Laurie made a great team. The ratings proved it. As for WPLG Channel 10 local news. Im certainly not going to watch it anymore. Who wants to get the news from small minded people. Im sure if it were a heterosexual woman like Laurie Jennings going through a bitter divorce. The station would have stuck by her side. WPLG obviously discriminated against Charles Perez because he just happened to be homosexual. Shame on them!
I FULLY SUPPORT CHARLES PEREZ AND LGBT RIGHTS!!!
DO NOT WATCH WPLG CHANNEL 10 NEWS!!!

[TAMIRA MOBLEY]

CHARLES,I LOVE U THE WAY U ARE. SORRY U GOT CAUGHT UP WITH THIS FOOL.U LIVE AND YOU LEARN.THEY WRONG FOR TAKING YOUR JOB .BUT GOD WILL SEE U THOURGH.AND I LOVE BILL KAMAL.HE DID HIS TIME SO THEY NEED TO LEAVE HIM ALONE.KEEP YOUR HEAD UP.EVERY DAY YOUR FRIEND.TAMIRA MOBLEY.OF FT.LAUDERDALE. GOD BLESS

[ftlaudcarl]

I do not know Charles Perez personally, but I have had the good fortune to be able to correspond with him a couple of times on a personal level after this started and I can tell you that he is the warm, respectful, sincere professional that he appears to be. He has been mistreated by WPLG Local 10 and they need to pay for what they have done to him.

SUPPORT CHARLES PEREZ AND LGBT RIGHTS. IF YOU ARE LGBT YOU COULD BE NEXT. TELL YOUR FRIENDS, TELL YOUR FAMILIES AND ASK THEM TO SPREAD THE WORD. DO NOT WATCH WPLG LOCAL 10 NEWS.

[Henry]

I think it's funny how "fredb" now watches Channel 10 News and leaves it on that channel to contribute to higher ratings. This poor stupid person thinks that someone knows he's watching it. Unless he has a ratings box connected to his TV so his choices can be sent to the networks (which I doubt), no one will know.

Someone put this poor fool out of his misery.

[walter]

hey fred b you are just what this country needs another bigoted nut job who believes God is going to get because of the homosexuals. From your letters you sound to have a 3rd grade education and live somewhere in the glades surprised they have tv out there let alone electricity

[Damien Witherspoon]

the PS of all this shall be where shall Chuck P. end up with another job, surely the local media will distance itself tho Channel Seven could be the au naturale to welcome him w/ open arms.........he could be easily added to the anchor desk as a third up and comer to that newscast that could be quite charming; and what of his second thoughts now having all this private sizzly stuff batted around in all the local media............would he've done it all differently had his able counsel and agent just taken the slighest moment to properly counsel their star celebre what to do and not do.............or could it be, that it is far too late for all of that.

[ftlaudcarl]

I believe Charles did what he felt in his heart that he had to do to stay true to himself. No one should fault him for that. If every homosexual in this country did that and stood up for themselves instead of hiding in their safe little closets we would be living in a much different and better country right now.

SUPPORT CHARLES PEREZ AND LGBT RIGHTS. DO NOT WATCH WPLG LOCAL 10 NEWS.

[RFN]

CHARLES PEREZ IS ONE OF THE BEST ANCHORS ON TV. HIS PERSONAL LIFE SHOULD NOT EVEN BE DISCUSSED. IT IS NOT HIS FAULT SOMEONE IS TRYING TO RUIN HIS CAREER. I WILL NO LONGER WATCH CHANNEL 10. IT IS HARD TO BELIEVE THAT IN THIS DATE IN TIME THIS IGNORANCE IS STILL GOING ON. DONT WORRY CHARLES YOU WILL SURPASS ALL OF THIS AND BE MUCH BETTER OFF SOON. WISH YOU THE BEST. HANG IN THERE!!!

[Jerry]

Everytime more comes out about this deviant, it gets funnier and funnier !! He is definately one screwed up person. Just proves the major point that homosexuals are deviants of society, they know it. If only they knew enough to just be done. Perez is finished in this industry. You can bet everyone in the know, already knows about his deviant behavior and unbalanced mind. He might as well go into male stripping in a homosexual bar !! Hopefully more of these homosexual broadcasters will find the same fate.

[Steve Rothaus]

Jerry, your comments are mean-spirited and ridiculous.

Steve Rothaus

[Rich]

Dear Steve;
I am not a gay man, in-fact I am married with two children. I have many Gay friends and a few family members as well. After first missing Charles Perez on Local 10, I started to ask where he went, and why no one said anything. After reading what has happened to Mr. Perez, I am appalled! Mr. Perez was, and in my mind still is, one of the best news anchors in South Florida, if not the US. Are we as a society in South Florida moving forward, or are we, like Jerry, still simple, mean spirited and single minded people. I hope Mr. Perez moves on to a bigger, better, and more understanding Network.I will NOT watch Local 10 again unless there is a PUBLIC apology to MR. Perez from WPLG. Charles, I support you and will miss your community involvement and caring. I can only hope a Local station picks you up. Good Luck and God Bless!!

[Lea]

OK enough bashing already, Channel 10's ratings are not as good as the other networks. I am sure that when Charles Perez stepped into the cahir held by Dwight Lauderdale for so many years it was a real tough move. I am not really sure why Channel 10 now decides to make such a decision, from what I am reading based on his sexual orientation, bottom line what he does behind closed doors is his business and the person he's with, hoever I am not so sure that he should jump from the frying pan into the fire, his new partner the accountant, is he really sure beyond a reasonable doublt that this person won't betray him as Mr. Pena's did if in fact that is the case. Remember hearsay is inmissable in Court and unless you have factual information, you are just wasting time. Look at Channel 7, Craig Stevens has no issues with his station, why all of a sudden Channel 10 decides to jump on the band wagon for morality? Like I read yesterday I grew up watching Ann Bishop and everone knew she was gay but she had a huge following and she was also well respected. So leave well enough alone....

[Erika]

I'm so upset that Charles Perez got fired from channel 10, I think its wrong that they did this to him. Who cares about his sexual orientation!!!!!! COME BACK, Laurie needs you!!!! Its not the same. Good Luck to you Charles, some day you and every gay/lesbian will have the same rights as a heterosexual!!!!

[MaxHeadroom]

Who cares! Channel 10 news is in the can anyway. And Laura Jennings makes me nauseous, a robot that reads a teleprompter, grrrl easy up on the hairspray and war paint.
Wow! Why don't you replace Charles with Anita Bryant and move to central Alabama.

[Lorenzo Epps]

blah blah blah blah blah....he's TERMINATED! THE END! CHANNEL 10 WON, charles LOSER! HA HA!!

[Dani]

I wish Perez were still at ABC. I liked him.