Jeffrey Hurant, the chief executive officer of the once-popular website Rentboy, pled guilty Oct. 7 to promoting prostitution in a federal case that prompted accusations of anti-gay bias.
Sentencing was set for Feb. 2, 2017. Under a plea deal, Hurant, 51, agreed not to appeal a sentence of two years or less in prison; also, his company cannot appeal a penalty of $10 million or less. Sentencing guidelines call for a maximum sentence of 21 months.
However, the development—from the arrest and business shutdown to the court process—stirred controversy. Activists questioned why the U.S. Department of Homeland Security would single out the male-escort site Rentboy when similar websites, gay or straight, continue to do business.