Gretna, Louisiana - A reality show about Steven Seagal as a deputy sheriff meets the legal definition of news, so its producers are protected by a journalism shield law, a Louisiana judge has ruled. Judge Patrick McCabe rejected a defense attorney's request to make ITV Studios of New York turn over raw footage of an arrest Seagal and deputies including the department's spokeman, Col. John Fortunato made last year in Marrero.Attorney Joe Marino III, who repersents a man accused of possessing cocaine, contented that "Steven Seagal Lawman," is produced purely for entertainment, and had to turn over the video. He could not be reached Saturday for comment about whether he plans to appeal the verdict handed down Friday. "News and entertainment have merged to such extent that they've almost become indistinguishable," McCabe said, rejecting Marino's contention.
Marino repersents Jimmy Sarrio, who was arrested July 25. In his arrest report, Deputy Brian Brisner wrote that he was "assigned to the television show production, Steven Seagal Lawman." Deputies was on a "a proactive patrol in trouble areas," when Fortunato spotted Sarrio's parked car, Brisner wrote.Sgt. Larry Dyess saw a plastic bag of cocaine "in plain view" on Sarrio's car floorboard and Sarrio, 30, of Marrero admitted it was his, Brisner wrote.
Marino said he needed the video because the report does not say why the parked car caught Fortunato's eye and led deputies to question Sarrio. If the stop was unconstitutional, the evidence the deputies gathered could be ruled inadmissible in court.
ITV balked. Attorney Mary Ellen Roy argued that it "Lawman" qualifies as a news show because it is about crime and drugs - the very essence of news. It's more like a documentary, Roy argued, "it's more like a series." The law "doesn't say you can't jazz it up and make it (news) entertaining," she said. It's the subject matter that defines it. If the subject matter is crime or drugs, then it's news.
My take : Mary Ellen Roy I agree with you 100%, we need to get the drug dealers off the streets, we are losing to many to drugs [young and/or old] .
I like steven too. As long as he is doing some good in his part of the world, it doesn't matter if it is entertaining or not.
ReplyDeleteThis type of show focuses on the work that our law enforcement officers do and should give us a little more respect for what they do for us.