U.S. Judge Grants Extension in Extreme Associates Case

PITTSBURGH — The federal judge to decide the U.S. government’s obscenity case against Extreme Associates owners Robert Zicari and Janet Romano agreed Tuesday to continue pretrial filings for three months.

U.S. District Court Judge Gary Lancaster granted the joint motion for the extension of time after a 10-minute telephone status conference Monday with U.S. Attorney Stephen Kaufman and defendants’ attorney Louis Sirkin.

Lancaster ordered the extension of time until Feb. 1 and deemed it an excludable delay under the Speedy Trial Act.

Zicari and Romano, better known in the adult business as Rob Black and Lizzie Borden, were first indicted in 2003 for distributing three videos via the mail and six images over the Internet, all alleged by prosecutors to be obscene material.

Lancaster dismissed the case in January 2005, ruling that the anti-obscenity statutes were unconstitutional when applied to Extreme Associates because they violated an individual’s right to privacy.

The Justice Department appealed that ruling before the 3rd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, which overruled Lancaster.

U.S. justices declined to hear the appeal, sending the case back to Lancaster for trial. Upon learning of the Supreme Court’s refusal to hear the case, Zicari said it was “a big fuck you.”

The government’s case originally zeroed in on the video ''Forced Entry,'' which stars and is directed by Romano.

The Chatsworth, Calif.-based company bills the film as a ''stunningly disturbing look at a serial killer, Satanic rituals and the depths of human depravity.''

If convicted Zicari and Romano face up to 50 years in prison and a fine fo $2.5 million.

The case is U.S. vs. Extreme Associates Inc., No. 05-1555.

Copyright © 2024 Adnet Media. All Rights Reserved. XBIZ is a trademark of Adnet Media.
Reproduction in whole or in part in any form or medium without express written permission is prohibited.

More News

Aylo Willing to Work With Australia's Online Censor on Device-Based AV Solutions

The office of Australia’s top online censor, unelected eSafety Commissioner Julie Inman Grant, released a new roadmap for implementing age verification according to the country’s Online Safety Act.

Spain's Technology Minister Unveils Soon-to-be-Mandatory Age Verification App

Spain’s anti-sex work and anti-porn Socialist Party (PSOE) government led by Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez unveiled a new age verification app that will become a mandatory step to access any adult content by anyone in the country starting in September.

Nikki Slick, Scarlett Mae Topline Latest 'Women Seeking Women'

Nikki Slick and Scarlett Mae headline the 197th volume of "Women Seeking Women," from Girlfriends Films.

Tanya Tate Performs 1st Anal for MILFY

Tanya Tate performs her first anal alongside Dan Damage in the latest release from Vixen Media Group (VMG) studio imprint MILFY.

Kenzie Taylor Stars in Seth Gamble's 'Gravity Wolf'

Kenzie Taylor stars in the latest release from reigning XBIZ Performer of the Year Seth Gamble's LucidFlix, titled "Gravity Wolf."

FSC Drops Opposition to California Age Verification Bill After Amendments

Free Speech Coalition (FSC) has dropped its formal opposition to California’s age verification bill AB 3080, after an amendment secured through months of discussions with the bill’s author was heard by the Senate Judiciary Committee.

Jennifer White Stars in 'Hot Dog Eating Contest' From Elegant Angel

Jennifer White stars with reigning XBIZ Male Performer of the Year Zac Wild in the Fourth of July-themed "Hot Dog Eating Contest," from Elegant Angel.

SCOTUS Agrees to Hear Texas Age Verification Challenge

The United States Supreme Court granted on Tuesday the petition for a writ of certiorari in the Free Speech Coalition-led challenge to Texas’ age verification law, agreeing to hear the case in the next term.

Penthouse Names Autumn Ren Its July 'Pet of the Month'

Penthouse Magazine has named model Autumn Ren as Pet of the Month for July.

Etsy Updates Policy to Ban Sale of Most Adult Pleasure Products, Content

Etsy will ban sales of most pleasure products and content that depicts sex acts and genitalia starting July 29.

Show More