Former Essex Video President Sentenced in Obscenity Case

The former president of a Northridge sex film company pleaded guilty in federal court Thursday to shipping obscene materials across state lines and was immediately sentenced to four months in prison and ordered to never work in the adult film industry again.

Jeff Steinman, 30, of Canyon Country, was president of Essex Video, a bankrupt company police say was once one of the three largest producers and distributors of pornographic films in the nation. Under an agreement with the Justice Department, Steinman pleaded guilty in exchange for a lighter sentence.

Judge Julia Gibbons of U.S. District Court in Memphis, Tenn., sentenced Steinman to two years in prison, but suspended 20 months of the term. Gibbons also imposed a fine of $100,000 and placed Steinman on two years’ probation after his release.

The Justice Department said Steinman shipped such videos as “I Wanna Be Teased,” “Titillation” and “Fleshdance” from California to Tennessee. Sending obscene materials across state lines is a federal offense.

Essex went bankrupt three weeks ago, leaving nearly 100 creditors, including movie director John Derek.

The company said it had no assets and almost $1 million in liabilities. Essex owes Derek, the husband of actress Bo Derek, $6,500 in royalties from an adult film, “Love You,” that he made in the mid-1970s and sold to the company.

Only a few years ago, Essex, Caballero Home Video in Canoga Park and Video Company of America in Chatsworth were the three largest producers and distributors of pornographic films in the nation, according to Sgt. Don Smith of the Los Angeles Police Department’s vice unit.

Several industry insiders said that at its peak Essex had 65 employees and annual sales of $40 million. It owned the rights to more than 200 movies.

Critics said Essex failed largely because it produced too many films--about 30 a year--and paid its performers high salaries. It also incurred at least $100,000 in legal expenses defending Steinman in 1987.