SlaveSpace.com
- BDSM Site Faces Obscenity Charges
BROOKLYN, N.Y. - Jurors are currently deliberating the case of Glenn Marcus, who was arrested in May 2005 on charges of forced labor and distribution of obscene materials through his BDSM site, http://www.SlaveSpace.com.
Adult entertainment industry lawyer Lawrence Walters told XBIZ that the real question of interest to the adult industry is whether or not the material meets the definition of obscenity.
Marcus' site featured various scenes of hardcore bondage, torture, domination and humiliation, and it is speculated that these acts might influence the jury's decision as to whether the content is legally obscene.
Walters said that the violence, bondage and humiliation was significant and that it would likely play on the jury's emotions.
"The conviction rates on bizarre fetishes is higher than with mainstream stuff," Walters said. "It's easier to put together as obscene or illegal."
Marcus' attorney, Maurice Sercarz, will have to establish that Marcus' content has artistic or educational value to avoid conviction on the obscenity charges. Walters said one of the ways Sercarz can do this is by proving the site was beneficial to viewers looking to learn BDSM techniques.
As for the forced labor dispute, two of Marcus' past "slaves" are providing conflicting testimonies. Both witnesses said they consented to the sex acts performed, but one claims she felt too afraid to decline and leave Marcus's home.
Her attorney, Pamela Chen, argues that her client was "made captive by the fear."
According to Walters, this testimony will also enter into the jury's psyches and affect the obscenity decision.
-- R/ 21:13, 5 March 2007 (PST)
SlaveSpace.com website Updated: 2001 |
- FRIENDS OF SLAVESPACE -
As many of you already know, the U.S. Department of Justice has shut down slavespace.com and the webmaster has been forced to defend himself against scurrilous charges in a federal criminal indictment dealing both with the content of this site and BDSM as a legitimate and acceptable lifestyle. If anyone has any information that would be helpful to the webmaster's defense, please contact Julia Gatto, one of the lawyers working on this case, at (212) 586-4900 or e-mail jgatto@sercarzandriopelle.com.
Additionally, in order to help defray the vast expense involved in mounting a proper defense, monetary contributions to the webmaster's legal defense fund can be sent to:
- G. Marcus
- c/o Sercarz and Riopelle
- 152 W. 57th Street
- 24th floor
- New York, NY 10019.
-- R/ 19:48, 5 March 2007 (PST)
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