Judge Declares Mistrial In Backpage Trial: Report

Phoenix AZ

14 September, 2021

5:05 PM

Description

PHOENIX, AZ—A federal judge has declared a mistrial at the trial of James Larkin and Michael Lacey, the founders of Backpage.com, who have been accused of facilitating prostitution and laundering money. U.S. District Judge Susan M. Brnovich approved the defendants' motion for mistrial on Tuesday, according to court records. She said prosecutors and witnesses included references to child sex trafficking in their evidence, though none of the defendants face sex trafficking or child sex trafficking charges. The Associated Press reports Lacey, Larkin, and four other employees were accused of knowingly selling ads for sex on the site. Lacey and Larkin have said the site never allowed sex ads, and that their content was protected by the First Amendment. A new trial is set for October 5 at 11 a.m.