LOS ANGELES — A new sentencing date has been set for Ira Isaacs, who was found guilty earlier this year on five counts of violating federal obscenity laws.
U.S. District Judge George King has calendared Wednesday, Jan. 16, at 9:30 a.m. for Isaacs' sentencing.
The fetish producer and distributor was found guilty in April on five counts of violating federal obscenity laws over the distribution of "Mako’s First Time Scat, " "Hollywood Scat Amateurs #7," "Hollywood Scat Amateurs #10" and "Japanese Doggie 3 Way."
U.S. prosecutors earlier had attempted to sway a judge to enhance Isaacs' sentencing two levels to seven years and three months by using the theory that "vulnerable victims" were exploited in the commission of federal offenses.
But prosecutors backed off on that plan after King said in his "tentative view" that the vulnerable victim sentencing adjustment does not apply in the case.
King said that if scat actors consented to performing in the films, then as consenting adults who helped produce obscene materials, they are better characterized as co-participants in the offenses than as victims. The performers at center of the now-scrapped testimony include Veronica Jett and another former adult performer named April.
The pair of actresses told federal prosecutors who were looking to ratchet up Isaacs' sentencing that they never would have taken part in several scat films if they had not been high after allegedly being fed drugs by Isaacs at the time of the shoots.
Isaacs was found guilty in April on five counts of violating federal obscenity laws over the distribution of "Mako’s First Time Scat, " "Hollywood Scat Amateurs #7," "Hollywood Scat Amateurs #10" and "Japanese Doggie 3 Way."
It was the third obscenity trial for the distributor and producer, who all along contended that the works he had been charged with have artistic value and can't be deemed obscene. The first two ended with mistrials.
A sentencing hearing was called off in September after new evidence was introduced by prosecutors, including testimony from an LAPD officer that said Isaacs appeared on a KFI-AM talk radio show hosted by David Cruz, asking listeners towards the end of the show to visit his now-defunct site, ScatMoviez.com, and buy videos.
The LAPD officer ordered and received through the U.S. mail four videos — "Euro Scat Girls," "'My Pony Lover," "Violet: Dog and Pig Fuckers" and "Hot Girl With Dogs" — that weren't part of the Isaacs obscenity trial.
Isaacs attorney, Roger Jon Diamond, noted to XBIZ earlier this year that the court shouldn't consider any post-verdict activity. He said Isaacs objects to consideration of any movie that was not the subject of the indictment in relation to post-conviction conduct.
Diamond has asked the court to grant full probation or, alternatively, a split sentence.
Isaacs sentencing will be held at U.S. District Court in Los Angeles on Jan. 16 at 9:30 a.m. The court is located at 255 E. Temple St., Los Angeles 90012.
