EL CAJON, Calif. -- Four filmmakers accused of videotaping homeless people fighting have had some of the charges against them dismissed.



'Bumfights' Video Shocks Court


A superior court judge in El Cajon dropped charges of felony battery and soliciting, ruling there was insufficient evidence.
However, the men still face charges of staging an illegal fight and conspiracy to commit battery.

After a five-day preliminary hearing, Judge Larrie Brainard found that prosecutors had enough evidence for Ryan McPherson, Zachary Bubeck, Daniel Tanner and Michael Slyman to stand trial in Superior Court a misdemeanor count of conspiracy to promote an illegal fight. McPherson, 19; Bubeck, 24; and Tanner, 21; were held to answer to a separate misdemeanor charge of conspiracy to commit a battery. All four are due in court Feb. 5.

Deputy District Attorney Curtis Ross said he was disappointed the judge decided to reduce the charges from felonies to misdemeanors.

Brainard dismissed felony charges of solicitation to commit a felony against all four defendants.

"The message has been sent. What they committed was a criminal act," Ross said. "You don't prey on weak citizens."

Defense attorney Patrick Hall, representing Slyman, said some of the testimony from the combatants did not square with what was said and shown on "Bumfights" tapes.

"There were six counts ... all of which could have left the young men in prison," said McPherson's attorney, Jan Ronis. "It really takes the pressure off."

Some 300,000 copies of the "Bumfights" video reportedly have been sold online for $20 each.

Performers typically were paid $5 to $100 by the video makers, who contend the fights and stunts were voluntary.

Fight participants Rufus Hannah, Donnie Brennan and Peter LaForte are suing the "Bumfights" producers.

Hannah testified that his memory of the events in the making of the "Bumfights" video was affected by heavy drinking.

Hannah admitted under cross-examination that he told a Las Vegas TV news crew he did the stunts willingly and that fighting was part of his lifestyle.

Later, he told prosecutor Ross he said that to make the interview "more entertaining."

http://www.local6.com/orlpn/news/st...116-100104.html


Poor Rufus