Bunnyranch owner Dennis Hof has sent out a call for help for embattled Screw publisher Al Goldstein, who has been confined to New York under the terms of his probation, though his residence is in Florida. While not asking for anyone to contribute money for his defense, Hof is asking that people, especially people with political connections in New York or Florida, pick up their phones and lobby on Goldstein's behalf.
“I don’t even have a home in New York. I’m sleeping on the floor on an air mattress. I don’t even have a shower so I go to a $50 dollar a night hotel with a shower in the hallway. I do not live in New York, yet I’ve been told that for three years I can’t go home,” Goldstein told AVN.com. “For a misdemeanor it’s unheard of.”
Goldstein alleges that he has been the victim of persistent government harassment, his restrictive probation being one of the latest examples of such. His three-year probation is the result of harassment charges brought against him by his ex-wife.
Goldstein had encouraged viewers of his cable access show to call his wife and tell her their opinion of her.
Goldstein originally entered a guilty plea, but recently tried to rescind that plea, a motion that was denied by Judge Renee White, whom Goldstein had written negatively about in his magazine. Goldstein, who had no legal representation at the time, was comatose during his hearing. He awoke in his office after the hearing and learned of the verdict, and found out the next morning by his probation officers that he was not allowed to leave New York.
“An unconscious man was found guilty. And no one seems to give a shit. Is that because I’m in the sex business?” asked Goldstein.
Goldstein suffers from a number of illnesses including diabetes and a severe bone disease. Screw staff have reported that he passes out regularly at his office.
In fact, Goldstein was recently rushed to the hospital after being found lying on his office floor by an employee. A bottle of pills was found by his side, and he was held in the psych ward in the hospital for evaluation.
Goldstein was released Monday night from St. Victoria's hospital, although at one point a sanity trial was threatened. According to Goldstein, doctor's informed him that they were under pressure from his parole officer to find him mentally unstable so that he could be placed in an asylum for six.
“It’s like in Russia where they used to keep people locked up in mental institutions. They wanted me locked up for six months. It’s payback time for me,” said Goldstein.
According to Goldstein, the harassment from the government is so bad its getting difficult to run Screw. He suggests that he may soon be relieved of that burden, as Dennis Hof has expressed an interest in buying the magazine.
“It would be a good addendum to the Bunnyranch. And Hof is a good loyal friend,” said Goldstein.
Of Hof’s lobbying effort on his behalf, Goldstein suggested rather than calling politicos, call the American Civil Liberties Union.
“Ask why the ACLU isn’t defending me. Do I have to shoot at American troops in Afghanistan to be defended. How come somebody in my line of work isn’t being defended by the ACLU,” asked Goldstein rhetorically. “I’m a Korean War veteran, I’m on social security, but because I’m in porn I can’t get any help.”
On a more positive note, his wedding to Leanna Quigley has been moved up to next week in New York. He plans on holding a reception as soon as he can return home to Florida.
