Glenn Marcus

Glenn Marcus (born c.1954) is a man convicted of forced labor and sex trafficking in March 2007, because of his conduct in a sadomasochistic relationship with his former girlfriend known as "Jodi".

Marcus, also known online as "GMYourGod", operated Slavespace.com, an adult website with pictures of his "slaves."

Jodi testified at trial that she consented to the relationship with Marcus from 1998, after she met him in an AOL chat room, until October 1999. Jodi traveled to Maryland to meet Marcus and one of his "slaves", Joanna. With her consent, Marcus whipped Jodi and carved "slave" on her stomach with a knife. Jodi later petitioned Marcus to serve him.

In January 1999, Jodi moved to Maryland to live with Joanna. Marcus regularly visited them from his home on Long Island. Her relationship included sadomasochistic acts, running Marcus' adult web site and appearing in pictures on the site. She wrote online diaries, calling herself "pooch" or "poochie".

Jodi said she was terrified and fearful that she could not leave the relationship. She later moved to New York with one of Marcus' "slaves," but went out on her own in August 2001. She kept in contact with Marcus until 2003, saying she wanted to maintain some control over her pictures. Marcus claimed he had a valid model release, while Jodi claimed Marcus had threatened to send the pictures he'd taken for his website to her family.

"Rona", a friend of Marcus who lived with Jodi, testified that Jodi was a willing participant, never cried or acted afraid, and had no difficulty saying "no" to Marcus.

Jodi went to the FBI in 2003. Federal prosecutors charged Marcus with sex trafficking, forced labor and dissemination of obscene materials through an interactive computer service.

On March 5, 2007, Marcus was convicted of forced labor and sex trafficking, but cleared of obscenity.

In a 42-page ruling, "U.S. v. Marcus, 05-CR-457", Eastern District of New York Judge Allyne R. Ross upheld the conviction. Ross stated that there was a difference between consent and abuse in such relationships. She also ruled that the federal Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2000 could be interpreted to apply to domestic relationships. [ [http://www.law.com/jsp/article.jsp?id=1179997531994&rss=newswire Law.com article on the appeal ruling] ]

On September 7, 2007, Marcus was sentenced to 9 years in prison. [ [http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2007/09/07/america/NA-GEN-US-S-M-on-Trial.php International Herald Tribune on sentencing] ]

On August 14, 2008, the 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals overturned Marcus' conviction and ordered a retrial because the 2000 Trafficking Victims Protection Act was used to prosecute him for events before the law was in place. [ [http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2008-08-16-NYC-overturned_N.htm AP story] ]

References

External links

* [http://news.com.com/Police+Blotter+Bondage+Webmaster+fights+abuse+conviction/2100-1030_3-6185920.html News.com Police Blotter]
* [http://meesekite.livejournal.com/ Livejournal of one of Marcus' submissives]

ee also

* Consent