One year ago, Congress defunded public media. Now that we're 100% community funded, please become a sustaining member or increase your existing membership today.
This is an archival story that predates current editorial management.
This archival content was written, edited, and published prior to LAist's acquisition by its current owner, Southern California Public Radio ("SCPR"). Content, such as language choice and subject matter, in archival articles therefore may not align with SCPR's current editorial standards. To learn more about those standards and why we make this distinction, please click here.
Porn Actor Receives 30-Day Jail Sentence For Exposing Coworkers To Syphilis
Jesse Spencer (aka 'Mr. Marcus') at a 2003 BET Awards party. (Photo by Amanda Edwards/Getty Images)
The adult film actor who caused a shutdown in the porn industry after knowingly exposing his co-stars to syphilis is headed to jail.CBS reports that Jesse Spencer, 42 (no relation, we assume, to the House actor of the same name), who works under the name “Mr. Marcus̶', received a 30-day jail sentence. He entered a plea of no contest to one count of exposing another to a communicable disease.
Spencer tested positive for the sexually transmitted disease before the Los Angeles measure passed requiring male actors to wear condoms in adult films. Adult film actors are required to be routinely tested for STDs, but Spencer did not come clean about his status. In July 2012, he altered a test form to keep his syphilis a secret so he could continue working.
He admitted to The Daily Beast in August that he altered the test because his doctor had told him he wasn't contagious. "The doctor was like, get a shot; it’s curable; it’s not as bad as it sounds. I went and got the shot, and I was told to wait seven to 10 days before you do anything sexual. I had to cancel work... I don’t think my decision making was right around that time, but I was determined to just get back to work, get back to shooting. And that was when everything started to go wrong."
Two actresses who worked with Spencer made a police report after a producer noticed the results on the form had been altered. None of the actresses contracted syphilis themselves, according to the D.A., but it still sparked an industry-wide scare that at first could not be pegged to one actor.
After coming forward, Spencer tweeted, "I can't apologize enough. I'll always be sorry this happened. Trust is hard earned and I messed that up. #Gottadobetter"
He told The Daily Beast, "I’ve been hearing I should retire, that I should go to hell, and that I should go to jail.”
Spencer has actually been in police custody since May 22 following a separate DUI arrest, CBS reports.
Sponsored message
“The potential spread of syphilis and other communicable diseases is a serious threat to our entire community,” said City Attorney Carmen Trutanich. “My office will continue to hold accountable those who place the health and welfare of others in danger in such a reckless and thoughtless manner.”
Related:
Snoop Dogg Congratulates Porn Star For His Shoot at the Coliseum
Ventura County Adopts Condoms in Porn Ordinance
L.A. Porn Production Takes A Plunge, Ventura Complains Of Too Many Naked People
Porn Without Condoms: First Complaint Filed Since New Law Implemented
Porn Producers Must Show Proof of Public Health Permit To Get Filming Permit in L.A.
Ron Jeremy Thinks the Porn Industry is Suffering Unduly Under New Restrictions
One year ago, Congress voted to defund public media, eliminating a critical $1.7 million from our budget every year going forward. But they couldn’t silence us, and we’re not going anywhere. LAist is now 100% community funded and that means we’re taking our future into our own hands and turning to you to keep local reporting strong.
You come to LAist because you want independent reporting and trustworthy local information. Our nonprofit newsroom doesn’t answer to shareholders looking to turn a profit. Instead, we answer to you and our communities. We are free to follow facts wherever they lead and to hold power to account without fear or favor. Our only loyalty is to our readers and listeners and our mission: to inform, engage, and strengthen Southern California’s communities.
If this story helped you, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
You come to LAist because you want independent reporting and trustworthy local information. Our nonprofit newsroom doesn’t answer to shareholders looking to turn a profit. Instead, we answer to you and our communities. We are free to follow facts wherever they lead and to hold power to account without fear or favor. Our only loyalty is to our readers and listeners and our mission: to inform, engage, and strengthen Southern California’s communities.
If this story helped you, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
Senior Vice President News, Editor in Chief
