Miley Cyrus famously made headlines at this year’s VMAs, when instead of accepting her award for her Video of the Year, she sent former homeless youth Jesse Helt up to the stage – to speak about teen homelessness and urge viewers to get involved in creating a solution. Shortly after the show, though, it came to light that Helt had an outstanding warrant for a crime committed years ago in Oregon. He wound up turning himself in, and on Tuesday received a sentence of six month behind bars.

Helt was hailed as the poster boy for the cause when he took the stage that night in August, and gave an impassioned speech about challenges faced by teens living on the streets of LA. Well-spoken and photogenic, he recounted his harrowing experience of having “survived in shelters all over the city.” He explained, “I’ve cleaned your hotel rooms, I’ve been an extra in your movies, I’ve been an extra in your life.” He then urged viewers to go to Cyrus’ Facebook page, where the singer provided a link to donate to My Friends Place – a Hollywood based homeless center.

Helt’s status as a media darling was short lived though, as news broke that he had previously been arrested for breaking into the home of an alleged marijuana dealer, and then fled to California without notifying his probation officer after pleading guilty. Once the story threatened to overshadow the important cause, Helt returned to Oregon to turn himself into the authorities.

In court, Helt’s attorney asked for a lighter sentence of community service and continued probation, arguing that his client is trying to turn his life around. He pointed out Helt is planning to attend community college and wants to become a solar engineer, and that he has stayed “completely off the radar,” since the VMAs. Helt also spoke for himself, telling the judge he wants to “be seen as a good person, not a nuisance to society.”

Helt and his attorney were unsuccessful, though, and he was given the stiffest sentence possible. Having already served 57 days in jail while awaiting trial, Helt has about four month left on his sentence.