WASHINGTON — from www.washingtoncitypaper.com – Today, defense attorneys for John “Buttman” Stagliano announced their intention to call one outside witness in the obscenity case: A porn performer who appears in the contested material (presumably either in Milk Nymphos or Storm Squirters 2: Target Practice).

One hiccup with her testimony: Attorney Allan B. Gelbard requested that the witness be identified only by her “screen name” as opposed to her “legal name” in the interest of her personal safety. If a porn performer’s real name goes public, “it can be a serious safety issue for people who perform in this industry,” Gelbard told the court.

The prosecution opposed the motion. Using the performer’s stage name in the legal proceedings “gives some air of legitimacy to the porn star,” Pamela Satterfield argued for the government. “She shouldn’t be treated any differently than anyone else in this case.”

Gelbard argued that porn stars who are outed to the public can endure stalking, harassment, even death threats. He told the story of one porn performer whose legal name was aired in public. A fan used her name to track her down when she visited his city on business, then showed up at her hotel room door. “Anyone involved in this case could receive death threats,” Satterfield countered. “I have received a death threat” as a result of the case, she told the court.

Gelbard said that by opposing the motion, the prosecution gave off an “air of witness intimidation.”

“I can’t remember any case where a request of that nature has even been made, much less granted,” Judge Richard J Leon told Gelbard. He promised to rule on the motion later.