Steven Kunes: Difference between revisions
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==Fraud== |
==Fraud== |
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In 1982, Kunes attempted to sell to ''[[People (magazine)|People]]'' magazine an interview with reclusive author [[J. D. Salinger]], whom |
In 1982, Kunes attempted to sell to ''[[People (magazine)|People]]'' magazine an interview with reclusive author [[J. D. Salinger]], whom he had met in Cornish, New Hampshire. Salinger sued and settled the case under the conditions that Kunes "agreed to collect and turn over any such documents or writings for destruction". The interview was never published.<ref>Weber, Myles. "Augmenting the Salinger Oeuvre by Any Means" in Bloom, Harold, ed. ''J. D. Salinger'' New York: Infobase Publishing ("Bloom's Modern Critical Views" series), 2008; pp. 199, 202, 210</ref><ref>[[Associated Press]] "Lawsuit by Salinger muzzles his imitator" ''[[Ottawa Citizen]]'' November 5, 1982, p. 65, col. 1</ref> |
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On August 27, 2011, a Santa Barbara judge issued a $200,000 [[bench warrant]] for his arrest when he failed to appear in court.<ref>{{Cite news |
On August 27, 2011, a Santa Barbara judge issued a $200,000 [[bench warrant]] for his arrest when he failed to appear in court.<ref>{{Cite news |
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Revision as of 17:28, 8 July 2016
Steven Kunes (born 1956) is an American screenwriter, author, and playwright. He attended high school in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, at Neshaminy High School, and college at New York University.
Background and early career
Kunes was born in 1956 in Bucks County, Pennsylvania and attended New York University.
Scriptwriting
Kunes has written for The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson, Salute to America's Pets,[1] a.k.a. Pablo (developed by Norman Lear and starring comedian Paul Rodriguez), Kate & Allie, Love Boat, Marblehead Manor, Small Wonder, What's Happening Now, Trial & Error (also starring comedian Paul Rodriguez), The Magical World of Disney, Out of this World, and Cheers.[2]
Daily Variety reported on June 10, 1992 that Kunes had sold a screenplay entitled "First Comes Love" for $1.2 million; although no film was produced, this was the highest amount ever paid for an original screenplay at the time of its sale.[3]
Fraud
In 1982, Kunes attempted to sell to People magazine an interview with reclusive author J. D. Salinger, whom he had met in Cornish, New Hampshire. Salinger sued and settled the case under the conditions that Kunes "agreed to collect and turn over any such documents or writings for destruction". The interview was never published.[4][5]
On August 27, 2011, a Santa Barbara judge issued a $200,000 bench warrant for his arrest when he failed to appear in court.[6] Thought to have been hiding in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, he was apprehended in New Jersey less than a month later. [7] At court, Kunes pleaded guilty and admitted to forging checks.[8] On May 4, 2012, he was sentenced to five years in jail for felony commercial burglary and grand theft by false pretenses. A plea deal allowed for a sentence of only four years if Kunes had paid restitution to his victims, but no payments were made.[9][10] On February 25, 2013, Noozhawk, a Santa Barbara online news publisher, reported that Kunes had been arrested again. He had been serving his five year sentence and had been approved for electronic monitoring on August 1, 2012. Kunes removed the device on August 22, 2012 and mailed the device back to the Santa Barbara County Sheriff's Office. A photo posted on the Santa Barbara County Sheriff's Office Facebook photo page led to his identification at a Carpinteria cafe and his subsequent arrest.[11]
References
- ^ http://familymovies1991.alotoffilms.com/usa/a-salute-to-americas-pets.html
- ^ http://www.buy.com/prod/cheers-complete-eight-seasons/q/loc/322/202414194.html
- ^ http://www.varietyultimate.com/search?search=steven+kunes&startYear=1992&endYear=1992
- ^ Weber, Myles. "Augmenting the Salinger Oeuvre by Any Means" in Bloom, Harold, ed. J. D. Salinger New York: Infobase Publishing ("Bloom's Modern Critical Views" series), 2008; pp. 199, 202, 210
- ^ Associated Press "Lawsuit by Salinger muzzles his imitator" Ottawa Citizen November 5, 1982, p. 65, col. 1
- ^ Hayden, Tyler (August 27, 2011). "Judge Issues Warrant for Wanted Screenwriter: Steven Kunes, Charged with Felony Forgery and Grand Theft, Fails to Appear in Court". Santa Barbara Independent. Santa Barbara, California. Retrieved August 27, 2011.
- ^ Finley, Ben; Dan Perez (September 16, 2011). "Cops: Neshaminy grad wrote more than just scripts in California". phillyBurbs.com. Philadelphia. Retrieved September 17, 2011.
- ^ Hayden, Tyler (November 29, 2011). "Steven Kunes Admits to Forging Checks and Scamming Friend: Will Spend Four or Five Years Behind Bars, Depending on Restitution to Victims". Santa Barbara Independent. Santa Barbara, California. Retrieved January 25, 2012.
- ^ Hayden, Tyler (May 8, 2012). "Scheming Screenwriter Sentenced to Five Years". Santa Barbara Independent. Santa Barbara, California. Retrieved May 12, 2012.
- ^ Magnoli, Giana (May 4, 2012). "Check Forger Steven Kunes Sentenced to 5 Years in Santa Barbara County Jail". Noozhawk. Santa Barbara, California. Retrieved May 12, 2012.
- ^ Nelson, Michelle (February 25, 2013). "Facebook Photo Leads to Arrest of Fugitive Steven Kunes". Noozhawk. Santa Barbara, California: Malamute Ventures LLC. Retrieved April 3, 2013.