Sargent’s name reportedly surfaced after a raid on the prostitution ring. One of those arrested, Stephen A. Clark, pleaded guilty and objected that what he viewed as special treatment for Sargent, calling him a “celebrity perp.” A report states that Sargent paid $170 for 35 minutes of sexual contact.
Villanova is a Catholic university — making these types of claims more difficult for a Dean. However, many people (particularly libertarians) have questioned the continued prosecution of adults for consensual sex for hire. Other nations have legalized prostitution and regulated it. Indeed, it is lawful in some parts of Nevada. Sargent is clearly a talented academic and a dean. He has served as dean since 1997 and was previously a professor and associate dean at the University of Maryland School of Law where he was greatly respected.
This is a sad development for him and the school. Regardless of the public policy and constitutional claims for legalizing prostitution, it remains a crime and he should have known better if he participated in such a crime. Many hope that this will not be the end of his academic career. He has already borne a heavy price and no criminal charges are expected to be brought against him.
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