Mistrial in Backpage Founders' Criminal Case Followed Several Rejected Requests
A mistrial in the federal prostitution and money laundering case against the co-founders of Backpage highlights the challenges of bringing cases against tech executives for individual conduct that's also related to a broader company effort, such as a popular website or subscription-based service.
September 29, 2021 at 09:29 PM
6 minute read
FILE – In this Jan. 10, 2017, file photo, former Backpage.com owners, James Larkin, left, and Michael Lacey wait on Capitol Hill in Washington to appear before a Senate hearing. Photo: Cliff Owen/AP, File
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A criminal trial in Arizona that's part of a government crackdown on internet sex trafficking recently ended in a mistrial. The details highlight the challenges of bringing cases against tech executives for individual conduct that's also related to a broader company effort, such as a popular website or subscription-based service.
In this case, a federal grand jury indicted six former Backpage.com operators—Michael Lacey, James Larkin, Scott Spear, John Brunst, Andrew Padilla and Joye Vaught—on facilitating prostitution charges. Some also are charged with money laundering. All went to trial starting Sept. 1 in U.S. District Judge Susan M. Brnovich's courtroom in Phoenix, but Brnovich granted a mistrial request from the defense on Sept. 14.
The judge had previously set ground rules for the trial when denying a bid to recuse her from the case based on statements against human trafficking made by her husband, who is Arizona Attorney General Mark Brnovich. When declining to recuse herself, the judge said one of her key reasons for doing so "is that this case is not about Backpage."
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