California 'revenge porn' operator sentenced to 18 years

SAN FRANCISCO, April 4 (UPI) -- The owner of a "revenge porn" Web site that featured more than 10,000 sexually explicit photographs posted without permission was sentenced to 18 years in prison.

Web developer Kevin Bollaert, 27, was ordered to pay $15,000 in restitution and a $10,000 fine. Because he is a nonviolent offender, Bollaert is allowed to serve his sentence in county jail rather than state prison. In February, Bollaert had been found guilty of six counts of extortion and 21 counts of identity theft. He faced a maximum of 23 years in prison.

Bollaert used the now-defunct site to post pictures from angry exes and then charge the victims $250 to $350 to remove them. The site mostly featured sexually explicit photos posted by angry ex-boyfriends and ex-husbands with the victims' names and links to their Facebook profiles.

At the sentencing, Judge David Gill read Bollaert's words from a transcript: "I don't know, dude. Like, it was just fun.... At the beginning it was kind of fun and entertaining, but now it's kind of ruining my life."

Eight women told the judge they were traumatized and continue to suffer. One woman said she was forced to quit college and go to a mental-health hospital.

"It's been so traumatic," she said. "It's a daily struggle to get my life together."

Attorney General Kamala Harris said the case is the first cyber-exploitation prosecution in the country.

"Sitting behind a computer, committing what is essentially a cowardly and criminal act will not shield predators from the law or jail," Harris said in a news release. "We will continue to be vigilant and investigate and prosecute those who commit these deplorable acts."