Karen Fletcher Sentenced on Obscenity Charges

PITTSBURGH — "Red Rose" website owner Karen Fletcher was sentenced today after pleading guilty to six counts of distributing obscenity online.

Fletcher's plea concludes her three year fight against federal charges stemming from fictional stories which appeared on her website, and was entered before U.S. District Judge Joy Flowers Conti, who sentenced Fletcher to six months of house arrest; 5 years of probation; and a $1,000 fine.

Pittsburgh is the same venue where the Extreme Associates obscenity case is being pursued, although no action has been taken in the case since August of last year.

XBIZ has reported on the Red Rose case since the the closure of Fletcher's website in October of 2005. It shuttered over stories that, among other topics, allegedly depicted the rape and torture of children and infants.

"I never thought I'd be in trouble for the written word," Fletcher told XBIZ at the time of her site's closure. "I had no pictures of a sexual nature on my site, adult or otherwise. [It seems] the only legal sex stories are those that involve a man and a woman consenting to missionary position sex in a dark room."

Although many observers doubted that an obscenity conviction based solely on text-only content could be made in today's society, Fletcher's emotional state, including suffering from agoraphobia — a fear of public places — reportedly prevented her from carrying on the fight for her free speech rights.

"This plea was mandated by the client's mental and emotional state. She cannot endure a week long trial in a public place, and would not likely survive any period of incarceration," Lawrence Walters, an attorney representing Fletcher, told XBIZ.

Fletcher helped prevent minors from accessing the Red Rose site by charging a $10 monthly membership fee, and while allowing the posting of stories by members, prevented any images from being posted.

"In the end, I am confident that Free Speech rights will prevail, but it will probably take somebody willing to sit in a federal prison while their case is being hashed out in the appellate courts," Walters added.

Related:  

Copyright © 2024 Adnet Media. All Rights Reserved. XBIZ is a trademark of Adnet Media.
Reproduction in whole or in part in any form or medium without express written permission is prohibited.

More News

VRPorn.com Launches 'Virtual Reality Porn' Meme Coin

VRPorn.com has launched a new cryptocurrency meme coin on its platform.

Angie Rowntree's Sssh.com Celebrates 25 Years of Pioneering Erotica

Over 25 years ago at an adult internet trade show called IA2000, a producer warned filmmaker Angie Rowntree that there was no market for “porn for women.”

Streamate Spotlights Savannah Sly as December 'Elevate' Community Partner

Streamate has selected New Moon Network founder and co-director Savannah Sly as its Elevate Community Partner for December.

LaBellaDX Launches New Site Through YourPaysitePartner

Content creator LaBellaDX has launched her new official website through YourPaysitePartner (YPP).

Clip Page Launches 'Creator Analytics' Feature

Custom content marketplace Clip Page has launched the Creator Analytics feature on its platform.

BBWXXXAdventures Relaunches Through Grooby's Blue.xxx

Paysite BBWXXXAdventures has relaunched under Grooby's new website management company Blue.xxx.

Flirt4Free Announces 'Tease the Season' Holiday Contest

Flirt4Free has announced its Tease the Season promo and model contest, which will run Dec. 21-25.The competition is led by the return of the Snowflake Contest, where models can be gifted digital snowflakes by their fans. The models who collect the most snowflakes by 11:59 a.m. on Christmas Day will win cash prizes.

SWR Data Publishes 2024 'Top Creator Platforms' Report

Adult industry market research firm SWR Data has published a report on the Top Creator Platforms of 2024.

MintStars Joins Pineapple Support as Supporter-Level Sponsor

Content platform MintStars has joined the ranks of over 60 adult businesses and organizations committing funds and resources to Pineapple Support.

Politicians Aim to Study Effects of FOSTA-SESTA on Sex Workers

In an encouraging sign for sex workers, California State Representative Ro Khanna and U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts have reintroduced the SAFE SEX Workers Study Act, which aims to study the effects of FOSTA-SESTA.

Show More