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Former Fox 2 Anchor, City Council President Charles Pugh Returns To Court

DETROIT (WWJ) - A preliminary exam is scheduled Friday for former Detroit City Council President and Fox 2 anchor, Charles Pugh, accused of having "inappropriate sexual contact" with a teenager.

He's charged with six counts of criminal sexual conduct - including first degree charges that would carry a maximum life sentence upon conviction.

The charges carry the potential of life in prison. Attorney William Seikaly had previously won a $250,000 civil settlement against Pugh on behalf of another teen in a separate case.

"Mr. Pugh said he 'regretted' doing this - certainly no expression of remorse nor even any acceptance of responsibility," said Seikaly.

Charles has managed to talk his way out of many difficult situations and I think it's not going to work in the criminal matter, and I think the things he was doing to young men in our community and other places - totally unacceptable."

At the time of his June arrest; Prosecutor Kym Worthy said the alleged offenses occurred between September 2003 and May 2004 when the victim, now 27, was 14- and 15-years-old. Happening when Pugh was working as a reporter and news anchor at Fox 2.

"Charles was poor, he got educated, and was able to succeed and he used that to get kids to trust him, " said Seikalym, "that's historically what happens in all of these cases -- that position of power and status to obtain the trust of the student to convince them to do things they would not otherwise do."

Pugh was arrested earlier this summer at his home in New York City and returned to Detroit to stand trial on the most recent charges.

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