Porn star Mr. Marcus was convicted of knowingly exposing two co-stars to syphilis and was sentenced to 30 days in jail Tuesday.
Mr. Marcus, whose real name is Jesse Spencer, pleaded no contest to the misdemeanor charge of exposing another to a communicable disease, according to adult entertainment site Xbix. In addition to jail time, he received 15 days of community service and three years of probation.
The case is believed to be the first of its kind, LA Deputy City Attorney Diego Edber told the Pasadena Star News.
Mr. Marcus, 42, who believes he contracted the STD on set, admitted to altering his syphilis-positive test in July so that he could keep performing.
With the altered test, he filmed sex scenes with two actresses before a producer noticed that the STD form was altered and the actresses filed a police report, NBC reports. Neither of the actresses contracted the disease.
Mr. Marcus’ altered test started a syphilis outbreak scare and moved the industry to self-impose a 10-day moratorium in August while actors were tested and treated for syphilis.
In an emotional interview with XBiz in August that brought the 18-year veteran actor to tears, Marcus said that he only altered the test because his doctor told him he would not be contagious 10 days after taking a shot of penicillin.
“I tried to cover it up… Because I said it was like the scarlet letter. It’s the word. Syphilis, whoa,” he said to XBiz. “I have to live with this, no one else does. I’m very sorry. I did not think that this would come out like this.”
Marcus was also arrested 12 days ago on suspicion of drunk driving and was being held on $200,000 bail, the Los Angeles Times reports.
Marcus’ case was used in a fierce debate last year about whether condoms should be mandated on porn sets. Despite strong outcry against it from the adult film industry, LA voters passed Measure B in November , requiring porn performers to wear condoms on set.
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