February 9, 2006 | The Biz

David Forest is not a pimp

Gay porn talent agent David Forest neither pimps nor panders. So ruled a jury on Tuesday, clearing Forest of criminal charges brought against him in 2004 when two of his models accepted money from undercover police for sex.

Those models were Rod Barry and Chip Noll, according to GAYVN News, both arrested for prostitution when they hooked up with police via Forest's "Meet the Stars" program, which introduces gay adult stars to their fans. Forest, meanwhile, was charged with two counts each of pimping and pandering.

"I was pretty sure the pimping charges would not hold up, because I don't take money from the stars," said Forest, who takes money from fans for making introductions, not from stars for having sex. "During their deliberations, the jury wanted to know if it's pimping if I don't know there's going to be prostitution. It isn't."

The jury agreed, finding Forest innocent on all counts after three days of deliberations. Had he been found guilty on just one charge, Forest, who operates www.forestmen.com, could have received three years in prison.

"I think this is a victory for the adult entertainment industry, as well as a vindication for David Forest," he said.

What are his plans, now that he's free? Well, let's just hope that the newly vindicated Forest will be putting all his energies into recruiting hot new talent for gay films - and minding all his p's and q's with the "introduction service!"

• David Forest not guilty [GayVN]