Pubdate: Wed, 02 Jun 1999
Source: United Press International
Copyright: 1999 United Press International
Author: SHELLEY M. JOHNSON

BELL TALKS OF SON'S ALLEGED MOLESTATION

PAHRUMP, Nev., June 2 (UPI) - Syndicated radio talk show host Art Bell
said on his program that his teenaged son was allegedly molested by a
gay teacher who is HIV-positive.

An amended lawsuit was filed Friday against the Nye County, Nev.,
school district and the former substitute teacher. It seeks an
unspecified amount of damages.

The lawsuit was previously filed last November listing the boy's
parents as ``John and Jane Doe.'' Bell was forced to go public after a
Las Vegas judge threatened to dismiss the case.

Bell said on his show that he has been living a ``personal hell.'' He
said the alleged incident was the primary reason he abruptly left the
airwaves for several weeks last year.

Bell said he was further prompted by allegations made on two other
radio talk shows that he himself was a child molester and convicted
pornographer.

Bell said ``as a broadcaster, you don't allow this kind of thing to be
said on the air unless you can damn well prove it's true. And there is
no word of truth to it.''

Two defamation lawsuits have been filed in Davidson County, Tenn., and
Los Angeles County, Calif., for the alleged broadcasts.

Bell said his teenaged son Arthur was heavily plied with alcohol and
marijuana by substitute teacher Brian Eugene Lepley, 34, on May 16,
1997. The boy was 16 at the time. Bell's son was bound in chains and
taken to Tecopa Hot Springs, Calif., and forced to perform sex acts on
Lepley.

Bell said the teacher never informed the boy he had tested positive
for HIV. Lepley was convicted and is serving a life sentence for the
assault.

The boy told authorities he would never have been lured into such a
position if it weren't for the drugs.

Bell said his son began to give away all of his belongings and often
discussed that his life didn't matter anymore. Bell said his son
``didn't care if he lived or died.''

He said his son's attitude caused him to leave the airwaves ``to
reclaim what was left of my family's life.''

``I would like to tell you that my son is all right, but he is not,
and I pray he will be,'' Bell said.

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