SAN FRANCISCO — Attorneys for the former owners of Backpage.com and for the federal government presented arguments this morning before a three-judge Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals panel, in the defendants’ appeal of a lower court’s denial to dismiss the case.

Attorneys for former Backpage.com owners Michael Lacey and Jim Larkin, led by First Amendment expert and noted adult industry attorney Paul Cambria, continue to seek a dismissal due to double jeopardy, after the pair’s first trial ended catastrophically for the government in a mistrial due to prosecutorial misconduct.

The oral arguments before judges William A. Fletcher, Jay Bybee and Lawrence Vandyke were broadcast live from the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals website this morning.

Stephen Lemons, editor of the Lacey and Larkin-associated website Front Page Confidential and the leading authority on the case, told XBIZ that today’s arguments “revealed, yet again, the tenuousness of the prosecution’s case.”

The government, Lemons added, “wants to pretend the Lacey and Larkin case has nothing to do with speech. It’s all about speech — legal speech that the government has suppressed. My hope is that the Ninth Circuit can put an end to this travesty.”

Today’s oral arguments come a year after controversial Judge Susan Brnovich — wife of Arizona Attorney General Mike Brnovich, who is currently campaigning for a U.S. Senate seat — declared a mistrial in the case against Lacey and Larkin.

As XBIZ reported, the mistrial ruling came after prosecutors repeatedly ignored Judge Brnovich’s instructions not to attempt to prejudice the jury by bringing up unrelated and inflammatory “child sex trafficking” insinuations.

“The trial judge declared a mistrial in September 2021 due to prosecutorial misconduct,” Lemons told XBIZ at the time. “The defense moved for dismissal, arguing that a new trial would violate the Fifth Amendment’s bar on trying someone twice for the same crime.”

Lemons explained that a new judge “denied that motion without holding an evidentiary hearing. The defense has appealed to the Ninth Circuit.”

SAN FRANCISCO — Falcon/NakedSword has released the full version of Trenton Ducati’s “Skintight” from studio label Hot House Video.

The first scene was released as a teaser on Wednesday. The feature stars Cade Maddox, Ethan Sinns, Sean Austin, Grant Ducati, Des Irez, Jim Fit, Aiden Ward, Dakota Payne, Jake Klerin and Jkab Ethan Dale.

“It’s an honor for any model to be included in the annual wall calendar for ‘Skintight’ magazine, but the real pleasure comes from your time spent on the sensual set of this X-rated photoshoot,” a rep said, describing the feature. “Before the day even begins, a naked Sean Austin is helping Ethan Sinns shave his ass to be camera-ready.”

Ducati enthused about the title.

“‘Skintight’ covers everything you could ever want and we really mean everything,” he said. “On top of a showstopping finale from Cade Maddox and Hot House newcomer Jkab Ethan Dale, fans will get to see models shaving each other’s hole and you’ll even get a shot of someone with a pool cue up their ass. There’s no telling what’s going to happen on the ‘Skintight’ set.”

Falcon/NakedSword President Tim Valenti also shared his excitement about the release.

“This is just another great example of what kind of great work screenwriter Ben Rush and director Trenton Ducati have been creating for Hot House and all of the Falcon/NakedSword brands over the past months,” he said. “We’re focusing on showing off the industry’s sexiest models while crafting fun and original scenarios that lead to the hottest action.”

“Skintight” is available for ordering or downloading from the Falcon/NakedSword store.

Follow Hot House on Twitter.

LONDON — Lovehoney has launched its popular Sex Toy Advent Calendars, kicking off advance preparations for the 2022 holiday season.

The company has begun promoting four advent calendars for shoppers who wish to avoid the last-minute holiday rush.

“The sexual wellness brand’s bestselling sex toy and lingerie advent calendars sell out quickly every year — so don’t hang about if you’re planning to buy one,” wrote a Daily Mirror reporter in an article announcing the launch.

Four editions launched this week:

The Lovehoney x Womanizer Couple’s Sex Toy Advent Calendar, a bestselling item during previous holiday seasons, features 24 products, including vibrators, anal toys, bondage treats and sensory toys.

Designed for vulva owners, the Lovehoney x Womanizer 12 Days of Play Sex Toy Advent Calendar includes sex toys and sensory treats “for shared and solo sessions.”

The Lovehoney Blowmotion 12 Days of Play Sex Toy Advent Calendar features sex toys for penises and anal play, including cock rings, butt plugs, strokers and vibrators.

Finally, the Lovehoney 7 Nights of Temptation Lingerie Advent Calendar features seven lingerie pieces and accessories.

For more information, and to purchase Lovehoney advent calendars, visit Lovehoney.co.uk.

LOS ANGELES — Chaturbate is celebrating that more than a dozen of its users receiving YNOT Cam Awards nominations.
 
“It is no surprise to us that so many of our broadcasters are among the tops in their field,” Chaturbate COO Shirley Lara said. “For so many of our broadcasters to be nominated in the YNOT Cam Awards 2022 shows that their peers in the camming industry recognize their importance and influence as well.”

Nominees include Eva Darling and Cinnabelle for Cam Star of the Year (Woman), Harley Xavier and ColbyKnox for Cam Star of the Year (Man) and Christina Monroe and Nikki VonSixx for Cam Star of the Year (Trans).

Follow Chaturbate on Twitter. 

LONDON — Scarlot Rose and Viktoria Quinn star alongside Loveday in Thousand Faces Films’ newest release, “Pointe to Please.”

“‘Pointe to Please’ highlights the shared voyeuristic elements in both dance and sex while contrasting the rigidity of ballet with the freedom of pole, all in a heady cocktail of lustful gazes, wandering hands and unadulterated pleasure,” said a rep.

The title marks both Quinn’s and Loveday’s debuts with the studio. Rose previously appeared in Thousand Faces’ “Paint Like Me.”

Click here to view the scene.

Follow Thousand Faces on Twitter.

LOS ANGELES — Laney Grey and Hime Marie star alongside Lily Larimar in ’80s fantasy “Call On Me” from VR Bangers.

The scene transports viewers back to a gym in the 1980s. “You’ll be the only person from the future — surrounded by hot girls who’ll have a whole lot of questions for you,” said a rep. 

“We were thinking about producing something with the ’80s vibe for a while now,” VR Bangers producer Ivan Harbakon said. “When we managed to gather all those hot vixens — Laney Grey, Hime Marie and Lily Larimar — on one set, we knew that it was going to be a great VR sex scene. And you know what? It ended up being just perfect!”

Harbakon enthused that fans are sure to appreciate the above-mentioned vibe and love the title’s “one-of-a-kind ’80s style.”

A trailer and additional details for “Call On Me” can be found at VRBangers.com.

Follow VR Bangers on Twitter.

LOS ANGELES — John Legendary has launched a new series on his OnlyFans and ManyVids pages, “Three The Hard Way XXX.”

The first installment finds Legendary performing alongside Skye Blue and Kayley Gunner. The clip finds Legendary at a book store where he spots Blue and Gunner. He encounters them later and invites them to join him for a night.

“Three The Hard Way” follows his previous series, “Date Nights.”

“My new series is definitely taking it up many notches, and it’s all about hot three-ways. The fans have been asking about something like this, and I was more than happy to indulge them. I’ve worked with Kayley before, but it’s my first time with Skye,” Legendary said. “Working with both of them at the same time was phenomenal, and I’m sure my series will be even more popular.”

The first clip of “Three the Hard Way XXX” is available on Legendary’s OnlyFans and on his ManyVids.

In other news, Legendary is featured in an interview in ASN Lifestyle Magazine’s September magazine. The article touches upon Legendary’s lifestyle, making the leap to adult, his to-do list of women he wants to work with and more.

The ASN article can be found here.

Follow John Legendary on Twitter and find his premium social media links here.

HOLLYWOOD, Calif. — Vixen Media Group contract star Violet Myers returns to studio brand Deeper in the first episode of director Kayden Kross’ new feature, “Drift.”

The five-part title is based on the life of Maitland Ward, who “takes the viewer through many imaginary scenarios revolving around her public persona in her head, but the three-way sex scene with Violet Myers and Anton Harden is as real and kinky as it gets,” said a rep.

“I’ve always wanted to work with Maitland, which was amazing,” said Myers. “The scene is hot and so real and carnal. This is one of my favorite scenes since I became a contract star for Vixen, and I know my fans will love it.”

Click here to view the scene and follow Deeper on Twitter.

Follow Violet Myers on Twitter and find her social media links here.

BOGOTA, Colombia — LALExpo will be holding several events over the next nine months, rather than holding a single conference in 2023.

“We are decentralizing LALExpo,” said a rep. “Instead of bringing everyone into one huge event, we will conduct…workshops in different cities of Colombia throughout the year, each workshop planned for 1,000 attendees.”

The LALExpo event schedule is as follows:

• LALExpo 2022 Colombia Workshops will be held in Bogota Oct. 23, Bucaramanga Nov. 20 and Medellin Dec. 11. These workshops will be focused on the professional training of models and studios.
• Fan Girl Expo 2023 will be held in Medellin from Feb. 7-9. This will focus on “the adult content creation industry,” according to a rep.
• LALExpo VIP 2023 in March, on dates to be announced shortly, on the island of Curacao. “This is a new concept that seeks to create a truly intimate networking environment, which will include activities for the top companies and members of the webcam industry from around the world: studios, models, affiliates and platforms,” said the rep. “As this will be a more intimate and exclusive event, attendees can establish closer business relationships and friendships with the top participants from Colombia, Brazil, Argentina, Mexico, USA, Romania and CIS countries.”

LALExpo will also be holding its second LATAM Tour in 2023, visiting Mexico City on May 4, Sao Paulo on May 7 and Buenos Aires on May 11.

“For each edition, approximately 500 attendees are expected,” the rep said.

For more information, visit LALExpo online.