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California Judge Rejects Charges Involving Major Escort Site (Backpage.com)
Source: Associated Press
California Judge Rejects Charges Involving Major Escort Site
By DON THOMPSON, ASSOCIATED PRESS SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Nov 16, 2016, 6:56 PM ET
A California judge tentatively rejected pimping charges Wednesday against the operators of a major international website that advertises escort services and was called the "world's top online brothel" by the state attorney general, but gave both sides more time to submit briefs before issuing a final ruling next month.
Sacramento County Superior Court Judge Michael Bowman cited a federal law involving freedom of speech while ruling that the state attorney general's office cannot continue prosecuting Backpage.com's CEO Carl Ferrer and former owners Michael Lacey and James Larkin.
At a hearing later Wednesday, the judge declined to make his ruling final, instead giving both parties more time to argue their positions. Bowman said he would issue a ruling by Dec. 9.
The men were charged by California Attorney General Kamala Harris, who referred to Backpage.com as an online brothel.
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By DON THOMPSON, ASSOCIATED PRESS SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Nov 16, 2016, 6:56 PM ET
A California judge tentatively rejected pimping charges Wednesday against the operators of a major international website that advertises escort services and was called the "world's top online brothel" by the state attorney general, but gave both sides more time to submit briefs before issuing a final ruling next month.
Sacramento County Superior Court Judge Michael Bowman cited a federal law involving freedom of speech while ruling that the state attorney general's office cannot continue prosecuting Backpage.com's CEO Carl Ferrer and former owners Michael Lacey and James Larkin.
At a hearing later Wednesday, the judge declined to make his ruling final, instead giving both parties more time to argue their positions. Bowman said he would issue a ruling by Dec. 9.
The men were charged by California Attorney General Kamala Harris, who referred to Backpage.com as an online brothel.
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Read more: http://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/california-judge-rejects-charges-involving-major-escort-site-43583132