TUCSON, AZ -- Amateur pornographer Doug Markwith is going to court next week with city officials who claim that Markwith did not get city approval to run a business out of his home, which they claim is not zoned to run an adult-oriented photography business from.
Markwith, accused of two city zoning violations, told the Tucson Citizen that if he loses in court next week, he might be forced to relocate, because studio rental is too cost-prohibitive.
Markwith has been a thorn in the side of concerned parents in his Rita Ranch neighborhood, with an incident in March 2006 when one of his models was arrested for indecent exposure and public masturbation. Another citation was issued when a minor was found with alcohol at a New Year’s Eve party held at his home. Cops have also responded to several calls of disorderly conduct occurring on the property.
While one local parent, John King, referred to Markwith as a “cancer to the community,” some do not see why Markwith is being targeted.
Rebecca Moore, age 18, said that she went to Markwith's residence to hang out and have fun with friends and that she believes her mother created "overprotective" rules. She reported never being photographed by Markwith, never felt pressured to work for him, and was never offered drugs or alcohol by him.
Markwith said in statements that his business is legal because all his work is done with models aged 18 years and older, and that he can only assume the allegations against him are the result of a personal vendetta.
"I'm probably the last of Rita Ranch's problems right now," he said. "I don't really know what's going to happen with all this."
Heidi Joy Pike has a wealth of adult industry experience. In addition to shooting well-received productions, she has served as editor of Buttman Magazine and senior associate editor of AVN.
