Following 14 hours of deliberation today, a Tampa jury found extreme pornographer Max Hardcore guilty on ten counts of distributing obscene material, the first time Hardcore has been found guilty in a career full of obscenity legislation. Hardcore said that he would appeal, and is free on bail until a September 5 sentencing. “I’m full of good spirits and they didn’t get my house,” Hardcore told AVN.
Hardcore’s attorneys told jurors that no one could have purchased or seen the eight hours of fisting, urination, and mock-”underage” footage by mistake, and (according to AVN), several jurors approached the Hardcore team afterward and expressed sympathy, saying the poor wording of the legislation painted them in a corner.
Despite past successful defenses for more extreme material than the likes of “Fists of Fury 4″ and “Extreme Max 19,” as well as the positive testimony of retired porn star Summer Luv—who told the jury that Hardcore, unlike other porn directors, “cared” and paid on time—the jury was unable to sidestep existing law, which counts as obscene anything that “appeals to prurient interest.”
As a precedent, this case bodes ill for Evil Angel and director John Stagliano, who face similar charges for tamer movies. That case is not expected to go to trial until next year.
· “Closing Arguments In Max Trial Reveal Prosecution’s True Agenda” and “Max Hardcore Found Guilty in Obscenity Trial” (avn.com)
· Max Hardcore (maxhardcore.com)
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Previously: Porn Valley (Adjacent) Dispatch: Max Hardcore Busted, Max Hardcore Trial Update, Porn Valley Dispatch: Max Hardcore’s Process
