The former owner of a Web site that makes inflammatory comments toward DeKalb and Sycamore city officials was arrested Friday.

Darin Boone, 21, of DeKalb, was charged with harassment through electronic communications, which is a class B misdemeanor.

While Boone, who later was released from police custody, admitted to purchasing the domain name for the site (www.dekalbcity.com) in February, he soon after sold it to make a profit from Middlefinger Productions of Chicago. Boone said the company currently is in charge of the content of the site.

The Web site has stirred interest in the community because it portrays illegal actions by various DeKalb County officials, including Mayor Greg Sparrow and the DeKalb Police Department.

Boone protested that he’s not responsible for the content of the site, nor has he added anything to it. He said he should no longer be attached to the site in any form and is confused about why he was arrested.

“My name was originally on it, but it was a cash transaction, so there wasn’t much paperwork. They must have been desperate,” Boone said. “[DeKalb police] Detective [Michael] Stewart had a quota to fill, so we believe he has some other sub-agenda.”

Asked if there was something the authorities could do to censor the Web site, DeKalb police Lt. Jim Kayes said it was up to the owner of the site.

“The content tells a lot more about the person in charge of the site rather than those being attacked,” Kayes said.

The site features a photo of Sparrow from the city of DeKalb’s official Web site, www.cityofdekalb.com. However, the photo, which was altered, shows Sparrow brandishing a confederate flag, smoking a cigarette and sitting in front of a Ku Klux Klan symbol. Adding to the attack, Sparrow is labeled “Greg the Keg.”

The Web site recently added a section that raises possible First Amendment violations as a result of Boone’s arrest.

If convicted, Boone could face up to six months in jail. Despite this, he remains hopeful that the case will be dismissed before he appears in court at 9 a.m. on July 11.

“Electronic harassment is one step below a speeding ticket, which is a class A misdemeanor,” Boone said.

Editor’s note: Detective Stewart could not be reached for comment for this story.