The Bush years were not so kind to L.A.'s porn producers, and a few ended up on trial for obscenity. While one of them, L.A.'s Max Hardcore (a.k.a. former photojournalist Paul F. Little), ended up doing federal time for producing video that is now fairly mainstream, another is walking away from charges.

For now.

An L.A. jury in the federal obscenity trial of Ira Isaacs was split on the question of his guilt, and a judge declared a mistrial.

According to reports two jurors, including a woman whose late husband was the maker of horror films, held out in favor of Isaacs.

His work features scatology (poopy!) and bestiality (not, apparently, animal rescues).

The four films alleged to have crossed the line into obscenity (obscene, offensive, lacking serious artistic, scientific or political value, and appealing to prurient interests — sounds like alternative newspapering!), according to AVN:

Mako's First Time Scat, Hollywood Scat Amateurs 7 and 10, and Japanese Doggie 3 Way.

Really.

Yes, Isaacs' trouble with the feds began under the Bush administration. In fact, we wrote about his first trial in 2008.

And … the feds can still retry him again if they want. Don't they have better things to do, like stopping the flood of counterfeit merchandise from China or shutting down marijuana dispensaries?

In an open letter to the adult video industry news site Xbiz, Isaacs writes:

First, I want to say, I love porn, I've watch porn since the early 70s, the time of John Holms, Ron Jeremy Harry Reems, and my all time favorite Porn Icon Jamie Gillis.

… Im not guilty and saw this as an opportunity to stand up for something important …

I believe in the 1st amendment-and America's promise of freedom of Speech and its hypocrisy of limiting our freedom of speech under the excuse of obscenity.

Isaacs, who todaymis the hero of porn, told the Los Angeles Times:

I'm a little disappointed because I have to go through this limbo again. It's like some kind of Ferris wheel and I can't get off.

[@dennisjromero / djromero@laweekly.com / @LAWeeklyNews]

Advertising disclosure: We may receive compensation for some of the links in our stories. Thank you for supporting LA Weekly and our advertisers.