Maybe porn is legal to watch in Arizona, but isn’t legal to shoot in Arizona, and that’s where William James Hartwell tripped up.

Mr. Hartwell ran a company called The New Media Studios in Phoenix, Arizona. In advertising his enterprise, Hartwell proclaims that “most porn is constitutionally protected free speech.” I would take that to mean since The Constitution is good for all 50 states that shooting porn in all 50 states is legal. Which it isn’t.

Hartwell ran a studio, and also advertised that customers using it to shoot their own amateur porn were safe and legal within its confines.

“While at the studio you are paying for equipment and studio rental only and may not engage in any illegal or unsafe activities. … If you come to make amateur porn, you are welcome at the studio,” Hartwell advertised.

Acting on a tip, the cops busted the operation. What does Hartwell tell them?

“We’ve been expecting you guys for a long time. We run a safe, legal business.” Sounds like something Diane Duke would say.

But you gotta love this aspect. Clients would contact the business and were directed to the location where they received paperwork to sign, stipulating that they are paying to have a pornographic fantasy recorded.

This part I especially like. Hartwell and his crew would also perform a “check” for sexually transmitted diseases that required customers to drop their pants and expose themselves. Looks like Hartwell was running his own STD clinic.

But, according to police this was no more than an attempt to screen for law-enforcement officers.

Once inside, the customer met with a woman in a private room where photos were taken. Then the customer was told he “could do whatever he wanted.”

The women told clients that they made money taking photos and “whatever else happens, happens.”

So far ten people have been busted on prostitution charges. That was the other thing. Hartwell was providing women at $140 for a half hour, and customers would receive either still photographs or a video.

Maricopa County Attorney Bill Montgomery has said that he will prosecute pornography cases police bring to his office, and this is just such a case.

This story is a by way of for porn folk in LA who think they’ll be able to shoot in Arizona. And how is all that out-of-state emigration going by the way?