YNOT – A California judge denied Marc Anthony Donais’ plea for a new trial, instead sentencing the former gay porn star known as Ryan Idol to serve 12 years in state prison for attempting to murder an ex-girlfriend and three related felonies.
Sacramento Superior Court Judge Troy L. Nunley rejected Donais’ argument that ineffective counsel kept him from getting a fair trial and imposed the sentence Wednesday, more than a year after Donais’ conviction for a 2009 assault in which he beat an ex-girlfriend over the head with a porcelain toilet tank lid. Donais, 46, claimed during his trial that he and the woman were arguing at the time, and he feared she intended to stab him with a knife.
The victim, 41, testified that shortly before the attack, she had moved out of the condo she shared with Donais after she caught him having sex with another man. On the night of the attack, Donais forced his way inside the bathroom of her new apartment, where she was bathing, and said he meant to kill her. He subsequently beat her badly enough to leave “blood gushing down [her] shoulders,” according to the victim’s testimony.
One of the most popular gay performers in the 1990s, Idol starred in a string of best-selling titles including Idol Eyes, Idol Country, Idol Thoughts and Idol Worship. Ironically, one of his most celebrated appearances was as the cover model for Criminal Cocks.
