9:30 Club, Anthem Owner 'Stepping Aside' After Arrest: Report

BETHESDA, MD — Seth Hurwitz — the co-owner of two popular D.C. music venues — is stepping aside after his arrest Wednesday for solicitation of prostitution, according to Billboard.

Hurwitz is owner of the 9:30 Club and The Anthem in D.C. He is also the chairman of I.M.P. Concerts — a concert and production company that operates Merriweather Post Pavilion in Columbia.

In an email sent to his staff Saturday night, Hurwitz announced he was "stepping aside for the time being" and putting the company's chief operating officer, Donna Westmoreland, in charge of I.M.P., Billboard reports.

"As anyone who knows our concert and venue businesses well is aware, I don't have much to do with actually running them these days, but to eliminate distraction, I'm stepping aside for the time being until the matter is resolved," Hurwitz wrote.

"As always, Donna Westmoreland, our COO, will be at the helm. She's been with us for 29 years and has been the leading force of the company for about a dozen years, so together with Melanie Cantwell and her booking team and Ed Stack running production, as well as each of the venue managers -- and all of you -- I know this will be seamless," he added.

Last week, the 60-year-old Bethesda man was arrested and charged with soliciting prostitution from a massage therapist.

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The massage therapist told Montgomery County Police that Hurwitz made sexual comments and inappropriate sexual motions during a massage session on Aug. 15. At one point, he reportedly implied that she'd get a larger tip if she performed sexual acts.

The victim reportedly declined his offer and "ended the massage early due to Hurwitz's increasing inappropriate sexual behavior," according to police.

Hurwitz texted and called her the following day, asking if she would come to his Bethesda home. Police said detectives were with the victim during their exchange, in which Hurwitz agreed to pay cash in exchange for sexual favors.

When Hurwitz stopped by the victim's place of work on Aug. 21, he was arrested and taken to the Central Processing Unit in Rockville, where he was charged with solicitation for prostitution. Police said he was released on a $5,000 bond.

Hurwitz is scheduled to appear in court on Sept. 26.