Clearly the judge intended to send a message:
A San Diego man convicted of identity theft and extortion after posting more than 10,000 sexually explicit photos of women to his so-called “revenge porn” website was sentenced on Friday to 18 years behind bars.
The sentencing of Kevin Bollaert ended an all-day hearing where a number of victims told of the humiliation inflicted by his website. . . .
The sentence was at the high end of the range; Bollaert faced a maximum of 20 years. In explaining his punishment, the judge noted that he stacked the sentencing terms based on the multiple victims. . . .
It was the first case of its type in the United States, and California was the first state to prosecute someone for posting humiliating pictures online. . . .
Once they were published, Bollaert would then demand hundreds of dollars from individuals to remove their photos through a second website he owned.
Prosecutors called Bollaert “vindictive” and claimed he took pleasure out of hurting his female victims with the internet being his “tool of destruction.” . . .
The case centered on a now defunct website called YouGotPosted.com, created by Bollaert so ex-husbands and ex-boyfriends could submit embarrassing photos of victims for revenge. The photos also linked to victims’ social media accounts.
Prosecutors say those who wanted to get the pictures taken down were redirected to another one of Bollaert’s sites, ChangeMyReputation.com. There, the victims were charged $300 to $350 to have their photos removed.
This kind of sadism-for-profit scheme probably seemed like a clever idea to Bollaert. He’ll have lots of time to reflect on his error.
[…] Robert Stacy McCain Clearly the judge intended to send a message: A San Diego man convicted of identity theft and […]
Sharing intimate photos of yourself with your spouse is one thing, though the potential for embarrassment, whether inadvertent or deliberate still exists. However, there is no reason for young people, especially young girls, to be allowing such photos of themselves to be taken for “boyfriends” or worse, taking “selfies” to send into the ether. Accuse me of “blaming the victim” if you wish, but if you don’t let somebody take sex photos of you, there’s nothing to plaster all over the internet.
Wow, looks like justice was delivered.
The Selfie Revolution is one of the most disturbing trends of the 21st century.
Yeah I had this story and the one of a Kansas elementary teacher who got busted For Unlawful Carnal Knowledge of a minor http://kirbyatlanta.blogspot.com/2015/04/in-noose-week-in-review.html
Am I understanding this correctly. If he hadn’t extorted money to take the pics down he wouldn’t have been charged?
I think he would have been charged anyway, the site allowed people to anonymously post pictures and personal info which led to some of the women being harassed. Still when you drop your panties and spread your legs, I’m thinking consent. And really this is a result of the hook up culture to where these women are doing the nasty with guys they don’t know very well.
Very disturbing when you realize what kind of social rejects are out there.
Lust
is to the other passions what the nervous fluid is to life; it supports
them all, lends strength to them all ambition, cruelty, avarice,
revenge, are all founded on lust.
-Marquis de Sade
ITA, and I just don’t get it. With all the beautiful and interesting things in this world to take pictures of, we have people that are taking pictures of themselves all day. Unfortunately, we have other people looking at them all day.
But it would’ve been better if he’d been punished first.
There are just some people in this world who should have the ever-loving crap beaten out of them – this guy Bollaert, Al Sharpton, Cabin Boy, etc.
“Accuse me of “blaming the victim” if you wish, but if you don’t let somebody take sex photos of you, there’s nothing to plaster all over the internet.”
I don’t see that as blaming the victim, I see it as a simple statement of fact, or cause-and-effect.
“But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart.”
-Jesus (Matthew 5:28)
I like that one guy’s t-shirt, “Go f*** your #selfie,” but in context I’m afraid it was ironic. Or maybe the joke was on the audience? The video seems mocking and celebratory at the same time.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kdemFfbS5H0
This humongous metablog explores the concept of selfies with Jennifer Lawrence
http://goodstuffsworld.blogspot.com/2013/12/goodstuffs-blogging-magazine-121th-issue.html
It’s Important to note he’s not going to jail for posting mere pictures. Extortion and publishing of identifying information gained improperly are the basis of his conviction.
Especially when they’re taking a blank eyed selfie in front of a smoking school bus bombed by the Muslim menace.
Hey Mike Brown, wuzzup dawg?
The site’s name ‘ugotposted’ already showed its intentions.
This scammer deserves some time in jail, but the full sentence (18 years???) is exagerated in my opinion. (prolly parole after 10 years). Rapists/murderers leave prison before him. Just look at that cop that killed the black guy ‘Trevor’ and he didn’t even jail time. The extortion of these victims most likely made the punishment so harsh and the law also wants to scare other clones websites like myex, http://theporndude.com/,… Kevin knew what he was doing, but once you’re earning tons of easy $$$ ($30.000+) + doing it anonymous from behind a PC, it makes it harder to quit.
Even with a nationwide revenge porn law, it is always going to happen, since men share their ex nudes in a state of ‘anger’, but at least they can be put in jail now. The damage can’t be undone though. Once your selfies are out there, good luck trying to get them removed.
Prevention in high schools would be a better plan, not? How about warning students about the risks of ‘revenge porn’ in sex education class?