Arrests Hinder Production of Sexually Explicit Films, Police Say

Police say they have at least temporarily blocked the hiring of hundreds of performers for sexually explicit films with arrests at two San Fernando Valley modeling agencies in the past two weeks.

The agencies, World Modeling Agency of Sherman Oaks and Pretty Girl International of Van Nuys, allegedly provided producers with about 80% of the actors and actresses employed in sex films in the United States, said Lt. Kenneth Seibert of the Los Angeles Police Department’s Administrative Vice Division.

Even so, the arrests of alleged principals in the agencies will not deal a fatal blow to the sex film industry, he acknowledged. “I’m sure we’ll shut down these operations for a little while, but anyone can come in and fill the void,” said Seibert. “I understand producers are putting out the word that they’re starting to hire directly.”

That could be a time-consuming chore for the fast-moving, high-volume sex-film operations.

“These agencies filter out a lot of unacceptable talent,” said Seibert. “They keep meticulous records on file cards listing what the girls will do and what they won’t do. They’ll push them as far as they can. If a producer calls up and says, ‘We need 10 girls for a lesbian scene,’ the agencies will be able to send them over.”

Pandering Charged

James Souter of World Modeling was arrested for pandering March 4 after sheriff’s deputies raided the business and his Thousand Oaks home. In a separate case, he was indicted under federal child pornography statutes last Thursday for representing porn superstar Traci Lords when she was just 16.

On Monday police seized records and nude photographs of more than 500 models at Pretty Girl International and arrested Craig (Reb) Sawitz, 42, of North Hollywood on suspicion of pandering in connection with the appearance of a 16-year-old girl in a sex film.

In an interview Tuesday, Sawitz said he believed the girl was not a minor and he had been “set up” by the girl’s mother. He also denied a police allegation that he owns the agency, which he described as a legitimate business specializing in nude talent. He said Pretty Girl models have appeared in Hustler, Playboy, Penthouse and other magazines and performers have had roles in “many motorcycle movies” as well as productions at major studios.

Proof of Age Sought

The agency took pains not to represent minors, he said. Lured by classified ads for “figure modeling,” models were required to present a driver’s license or birth certificate plus another corroborating ID.

But those precautions were lax, police say. The IDs were “the kind of things you can buy at swap meets, check-cashing cards from supermarkets, you name it,” Seibert said.

Even novice performers would be handsomely paid, according to police. A beginner could fetch $250 for each filmed sex act, while such box-office draws as Traci Lords received as much as $7,500 per day. In addition, each performer would have his or her own fee schedule for “the kinky stuff--bondage, anal sex, things like that,” Seibert said.

By comparison, the agencies’ take was modest--$40 per day for each referral.