Kentucky Judge Declares Porn Clips 'More Distracting' Than Other Visual Content

Kentucky Judge Declares Porn Clips 'More Distracting' Than Other Visual Content

LOUISVILLE, Ky. — The legal status of porn videos as a specific kind of content has unexpectedly emerged as a side issue during a Kentucky murder trial currently underway, with a judge declaring adult content to be more distracting than "a typical movie.”

On Christmas Eve 2018, Roger Burdette hit a police car with his MSD tanker truck, causing a crash and explosion that killed LMPD Detective Deidre Mengedoht in downtown Louisville.

“Prosecutors claim Burdette was watching pornography on his cell phone moments before the crash, and that he had drugs in his system that impaired his motor skills,” local station WDRB reported.

Burdette failed a field sobriety test and initially said that he had taken “non-narcotic prescription drugs.” Prosecutors charged him with murder and DUI.

Yesterday, Burdette's defense asked Judge McKay Chauvin to “prohibit prosecutors from telling jurors that Burdette was watching pornography when the wreck occurred, arguing that there is a ‘social stigma’ associated with porn and the type of video Burdette was watching is unimportant,” WDRB reported.

"It doesn't matter what type of video is being played," Burdette’s attorney argued. "What matters is [the] distraction."

The prosecutors, however, countered with the allegation that Burdette “specifically was looking for a certain porn video that he had watched before, and was not listening to dialogue, meaning he was more distracted,” according to WDRB.

The judge agreed, ruling pornography is “a visual medium” and would be “a greater distraction than a typical movie.”

The judge did not clarify what this assessment might be based on, or how "pornography" would be defined as distinct from other forms of visual content or sexual expression.

Burdette’s trial continues this week.

Related:  

Copyright © 2025 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

FSC Publishes Analysis of Federal Trade Commission Event Promoting AV

Free Speech Coalition (FSC) has published an analysis of a Federal Trade Commission (FTC) event held this week that promoted age verification among other forms of speech regulation.

GirlsDoPorn Owner Michael Pratt Pleads Guilty to Sex Trafficking

Michael Pratt, former owner of the rogue website GirlsDoPorn, pleaded guilty in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of California on Thursday to sex trafficking and conspiracy to commit sex trafficking charges, according to a report by City News Service.

Master Nico Relaunches Site Through YourPaysitePartner

Master Nico has relaunched his official website through YourPaysitePartner (YPP).

Federal Judge Grants Partial Halt of Florida AV Law

The United States District Court for the Northern District of Florida, Tallahassee Division, has granted a preliminary injunction against HB 3, the state's age verification law, as a lawsuit filed by two online trade associations challenging the law makes its way through the courts.

Aylo Releases Statement on Suspending Access to Pornhub in France

Technology and media company Aylo, which operates adult sites including Pornhub, YouPorn, and Redtube, has released a public statement regarding its decision to block access to its sites in France.

Pineapple Support to Host Wellness Sessions at Bucharest Summit

Pineapple Support is hosting free group and one-on-one therapy sessions at Bucharest Summit, June 3-5.

Pornhub Blocks Access in France in Response to SREN Law

Pornhub parent company Aylo has opted to block access to its sites in France rather than comply with age verification requirements under the country’s Security and Regulation of the Digital Space (SREN) law.

ASACP Highlights Study on Parental Controls

The Association of Sites Advocating Child Protection (ASACP) is highlighting the results of a study on the underutilization of parental controls.

Sydney Screams Launches New Site Through Grooby's Blue.xxx

Sydney Screams has launched her new membership site, SydneyScreams.xxx, through Grooby's website management company Blue.xxx.

Mistress Mystii Is LoyalFans' 'Featured Creator' for June

LoyalFans has named Mistress Mystii as its Featured Creator for June.

Show More