OAKLAND – Former KTVU news anchor Frank Somerville has pleaded no contest to alcohol-related reckless driving in a settlement that removes a lot of the charges he made last yr in disputes with relations, court records show.
Somerville pleaded no contest Monday to the only charge, a misdemeanor and a probation violation for a previous drunken driving case. The deal closes a case that stemmed from Somerville's two arrests inside nine hours last yr. Family members accused Somerville of showing up drunk and arguing with them after being asked to depart, which he denied.
In exchange for his no-contest plea, Somerville will serve a 30-day jail sentence San Francisco Chronicle reported. Charges of criminal threats, assault and trespassing were all dismissed. Somerville told the Chronicle he felt “vindicated” but admitted he also made mistakes.
Somerville, 66, anchored the station's 5 p.m. and 10 p.m. newscasts from 2008 to 2021. His 31-year profession at KTVU ended on January 31, 2022, when his contract expired and the station decided to not bring him back. He had already been suspended from the station twice in 2021, once for slurring his words during a newscast.
He had been arrested a month earlier in uptown Oakland on suspicion of driving under the influence after a automobile accident near his home. Somerville said in an interview on the time that he didn’t consider his arrest was a consider KTVU's decision.
In June 2023, police arrested Somerville on suspicion of criminal threats, public intoxication, assault and a probation violation at a member of the family's home in Berkeley. Almost nine hours later, they received one other call from the identical apartment, in accordance with police. Authorities said that after posting bail on the Berkeley Jail, Somerville went home and picked up his vehicle. Police said he then returned to the family home to retrieve property he had lost in the primary encounter.
According to police, Somerville rang the doorbell repeatedly until the person he was arguing with answered. Police said the person spoke to Somerville after which called 911.
Officers responded and located Somerville sitting in his automobile, police said. According to police, he exhibited objective physical signs of intoxication and was seen driving drunk. Officers then booked Somerville into the Santa Rita Jail.
His lawyer couldn’t be reached for comment. A message sent to the district attorney's office Monday evening was not immediately returned.
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