January 19, 2013 | The Biz

Producer gets prison time for scat videos

Poop is art, according to Ira Isaacs, a producer of raunchy porn, who has been handed a four year prison sentence by a federal court in Los Angeles. He was also fined $10,000 and will be placed upon supervised release when his prison term ends.

Isaacs was being tried for violating federal obscenity laws over the distribution of  videos including "Mako’s First Time Scat, " "Hollywood Scat Amateurs #7"  and "Japanese Doggie 3 Way." He argued that his videos were works of art; under the law if material has artistic merit it cannot be deemed obscene.

After two mistrials, the court decided that Isaacs was in violation of the federal law banning the distribution of obscene material. The acts that can still be prosecuted under the law as "obscene" are few, but   include sex with pooing, sex with unscripted violence and sex with animals.   

The prosecution also wanted to paint the actresses in the films as victims. Two performers said they would never have consented to appearing an in scat film, except that they were high at the time of the filming.

"I have viewed the videos for this sentencing hearing, and I find them just as obscene as those used in Mr. Isaacs' conviction," U.S District Judge George King said. "He has not accepted his responsibility to the community."

The judge wasn't convinced about the works' artistic merit, either.

"I have totally rejected during the course of the trial that he's a shock artist," King said. "He has cloaked himself as a First Amendment defendant. But the fact is that he did it for money. He's not a defender of the First Amendment. He cheapens the First Amendment."

"Bottom line is the artist determines their art," Isaacs countered, following the verdict. "And when you trash them for taking chances, it is dangerous. Because once you take an artist and you throw them in prison, it gives the message, 'don't take risks, don't try anything new.'"

"There is no freedom of speech if you have limitations," he said.

Isaacs plans on appealing the decision.

Art or not, we think his work is crappy.

Ira Isaacs Sentenced to 4 Years in Federal Prison, Fined $10K [XBiz]