KOCE charge dismissed

A U.S. District Court judge dismissed a racketeering charge against KOCE-TV, the embattled Orange County public television station that has been in court since it was sold to its own fundraising foundation in 2004.

When the Coast Community College District, which owned KOCE, sold it to the KOCE-TV Foundation, Christian broadcaster Daystar Television Network protested that its bid was higher. This May, an appellate court judge voided the sale.

Daystar had filed four federal complaints against KOCE-TV, including the racketeering charge. U.S. District Court Judge Cormac J. Carney last week dismissed that charge, according to court documents provided by KOCE-TV Foundation general counsel Ardelle St. George, who said all four charges were without merit.

“This is a big one, though. We were very pleased at the ruling,” she said.

No ruling has been issued on the other three charges. Daystar’s attorney could not immediately be reached for comment.