Developer charged with threatening, assaulting reporter
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Developer charged with threatening, assaulting reporter
- A developer unhappy with a reporter’s coverage of his proposed business venture was charged with verbally and physically threatening the journalist.
Dec. 14, 2004 — Eddie Koury, a Burlington, N.C., developer, allegedly threatened James Moffat, a reporter for the Times-News of Burlington, in a hallway before a Dec. 7 City Council meeting, the Associated Press reported.
Moffat had previously approached Koury after a zoning meeting and asked if Koury would elaborate on the nature of his proposed private club, Lee Barnes, the Times-News ‘ executive editor said in a phone interview.
The next time Moffat saw Koury was Dec. 7, when the developer grabbed the reporter by the arm, put a hand around his throat and threatened him with bodily harm, Barnes said.
Moffat filed charges against Koury of simple assault and communicating threats on Dec. 8.
The case is scheduled to be heard Jan. 7 in Alamance County District Court.
“We’ll let the justice system work its course,” Barnes said.
— CB
© 2004 The Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press
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