Match.com rapist sentenced to year in prison

LOS ANGELES

Alan Wurtzel pleaded no contest last month to one count of sexual battery by restraint.

Wurtzel, 67, also was sentenced to five years of probation and was ordered to register as a sex offender and complete a year of counseling. He will also not be able to use computers or phones for social networking, unless approved by a probation officer.

Wurtzel assaulted Carole Markin last year after meeting her on the online dating site Match.com. Markin said Wurtzel followed her into her home after their second date and sexually assaulted her.

After the attack, Markin discovered Wurtzel was a convicted sex offender.

Markin sued Match.com over the incident, but later settled after the website agreed to screen members against state and federal sex offender registries.

Other online dating sites, such as eHarmony.com, are also following suit.

The Associated Press contributed to this story.

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