Porn star pleads no contest in syphilis case

An attorney for the porn actor “Mr. Marcus,” who hid the fact he tested positive for syphilis, said his client pleaded no contest to a misdemeanor charge of exposing another to a communicable disease to get out of jail.

Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge Catherine Ewell sentenced Jesse Spencer on Tuesday to 30 days in jail, 15 days of community service and three years probation. At the time of the sentencing, Spencer was being held on $200,000 bail for suspicion of drunk driving.

Martin Cutler, Spencer’s attorney, said he believes his client “would have been acquitted of all charges if he had gone to trial. but he entered into this plea agreement in order to be released from custody as he had been held on $200,000 bail (an excessive amount) due to his recent DUI arrest while on probation for the charge of exhibition of speed.”

Los Angeles city prosecutors alleged that the porn star concealed that he tested positive for syphilis and had then taken penicillin but returned to filming sex scenes before getting an all-clear from doctors.

Cutler said his client was not communicable when he shot two adult movie scenes for which he was charged with willfully exposing another to a communicable disease.

According to Cutler, Spencer received a penicillin shot and waited the time designated by his doctor and the CDC’s own website before engaging in sexual activity. Spencer said that neither actress he filmed with on July 26 and Aug. 7 of last year contracted syphilis.

The porn star has not tested positive for syphilis since July 23, 2012 after receiving treatment, Cutler said.

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