Larry Schwarz and De'Bella

A Chat With Jewel DeNyle's Stepfather

From Erotica LA Sunday, June 12, 2005.

Duke: "How did you get into the industry?"

Larry Schwarz: "Our daughter Jewel DeNyle asked us if we would come over and help set up the business Platinum X. We started talking about it at Christmas 2002 and we moved here in March of 2003."

Duke: "How did you feel when you found out Jewel was working in the porn industry?"

Larry: "It was a shock obviously. She moved to California for totally different reasons. When she told us, my wife and I talked about it. We realized that this was something she wanted to do. In our opinion, it was better to be supportive of her and still be there for her. I was concerned that if we did anything short of that, she might do some things that would hurt herself. It's worked out well. She doesn't drink. She doesn't do drugs. She doesn't smoke. She bought her own home when she was 23. She called me when she wanted to know about investments."

Duke: "Who does she take after in her personality? You or your wife?"

Larry: "Certainly her mother. Looks too, thank G-d."

Duke: "She's very independent."

Larry: "I've always thought that girls should be able to do anything that boys can do."

Duke: "She's fiery."

Larry: "Yes. That she may have gotten from her real dad. I raised her eversince she was six."

Larry's wife, Jewel's biological mother, is head of sales for Platinum X.

Duke: "What do you love and hate about working in the porn industry?"

Larry: "Wow. I've never had a job I didn't like. This is the most fun I've ever had."

Duke: "What kind of adjustments did you have to make to work in this industry?"

Larry: "Not nearly what I was led to believe. I was told that the people would be different, harder to deal with. I don't think that's true. Business is business. The language is different. I don't mean bad language. Here we deal with DVDs, VHS, masters, etc. Billing is billing, collecting is collecting."

Larry served two terms as a state legislator in Colorado and for two governors on the parole board. "I was in the state legislature when I found out our daughter was in this industry."

Duke: "Did it become a political issue?"

Larry: "It did in the end, among other things."

From Rocky Mountain News, August 7, 2004:

Debbie, his wife of 24 years, is director of sales. Their 28-year-old daughter, Stephany, is co-owner and star of the company, where she goes by the stage name Jewel DeNyle.

People who knew Schwarz as a Republican legislator twice elected to represent a conservative House district in southern Colorado say they can't fathom his being part of the $6 billion porn industry.

"I could put my finger in an electrical socket and I wouldn't get this kind of a shock," says Ken Chlouber, the Republican president pro tem of the Colorado Senate, who worked with Schwarz on several bills and once wintered his burros on Schwarz's ranch in Wetmore. "If you knew Larry, none of this fits."

A former trucking company executive, Schwarz was tapped in 1997 by then-Gov. Roy Romer for a seat on the state's Parole Board. He was reappointed by Gov. Bill Owens three years later.

Then everything unraveled.

Authorities raided Schwarz's Wetmore home on Dec. 4, 2001, looking for child pornography. According to court records, police removed cartoon books depicting children having sex and other items, including tapes of DeNyle from Schwarz's home.

Police also investigated claims that Schwarz had sexually molested family members years earlier. No charges were filed, but Owens fired him from the Parole Board.

Schwarz says that after 15 months of unsuccessful job hunting, the position at his daughter's film company was the "only one available" to him.

Stephany, who refused to be interviewed for this story, spent nine years in the tiny town of Wetmore, 20 miles south of Cañon City. She is the biological daughter of Debbie Schwarz and was adopted by Larry while still a child.

People in Wetmore remember Stephany as a rowdy high school student, but Schwarz says he never detected signs that she was heading toward life as a porn star.

However people categorize his involvement in the adult industry, Schwarz says he will never abandon his Republican ideals of self-reliance, lower taxes and individual freedom.

Here's a Denver media report from 2001:

Authorities have seized dozens of pornographic videotapes and comic books from the home of former state legislator Larry Schwarz and parole board officer. [Schwarz is the father of porn actress Jewel De'Nyle.]

Schwarz, 61, who served as a state legislator from 1995 to 1997, is under investigation on allegations of incest and sexual assault on a child. He was fired Dec. 4 from the Colorado State Parole Board. He has not been arrested or charged with any criminal offense.

Custer County launched an investigation Nov. 5 after a therapist called the sheriff's office and claimed Schwarz molested her client, a 43-year-old member of Schwarz's family. The therapist said that two other family members were also victimized and that her client was concerned about a 7-year-old family member.

The search of Schwarz's Wetmore home turned up 75 pornographic magazines and catalogs, many of which contained photographs of a 25-year-old member of Schwarz's family. Investigators also seized 15 comic books with pictures of children having sex, according to court documents filed last week.

A state-owned Dell laptop computer, a Compaq computer, a black leather attache case with addresses and phone numbers and miscellaneous financial and phone records for the year 2000 were taken as well.

Duke: "Has this industry tarnished you?"

Larry: "Not in my mind."

Duke: "But in a lot of people's minds?"

Larry: "Yeah. That's their problem."

Duke: "Is Jewel a Republican?"

Larry: "Yes. We're fiscal conservatives."

Duke: "You're a religious man?"

Larry: "Yes. I was raised and baptized a Lutheran and switched to Methodist by my choice. I strongly believe in G-d."

Duke: "What do you think G-d thinks about the porn industry?"

Larry: "I think it's a matter of choice and how we each handle ourselves. My opinion is that I will go to Heaven the same as anyone else will."

Duke: "You don't think G-d has a moral judgment against pornography?"

Larry: "I don't know. That's for Him to judge. If I'm going to be judged the other way, then I'm going to be judged the other way."

Duke: "Do you feel any internal conflict about it?"

Larry: "No."

Duke: "Don't you think pornography tarnishes people's souls?"

Larry laughs. "I guess not. Any more than I believe that people who don't know about G-d are going to go to Hell because they don't know. I don't believe that G-d is that cruel."

Duke: "How often do you go to church?"

Larry: "Seldom. Mostly it is my feeling that on ranches and farms, I hunt and fish. I've always tried to explain to my mother, who's extremely church-oriented, that I feel closer to G-d in the open and in the fields. I've always loved Indians. I read a lot about the Native Americans. Just because they might've called G-d ...., it's the same G-d."

Duke: "Jewel is into Wiccan. How do you feel about that?"

Larry: "I'd prefer she would be more into normal religions. She looks at it as not a negative. I don't know where she got that. It certainly didn't come from our family. It came from being out here and associated with those people.

"She's getting in September in a Catholic wedding. She still believes in G-d. She doesn't look at Wiccan as cruel witchcraft."

Duke: "Does she cast spells on people?"

Larry laughs. "Not that I know of. The only spell that she casts on people is her beauty."

The first two years that Jewel was in the industry, is was hard on her mother Debbie. Then Scott Taylor, owner of New Sensations, took them to the AVN show in January 2000. Jewel's parents saw that she dressed in a classy way and handled her interviews in a classy way.

When Debbie became head of sales, she couldn't even say the names of her titles. Instead of "The Pussy Is Not Enough," she said, "The Kitty Is Not Enough." Eventually she and her husband used porn language, though they still feel a twinge at times when it turns graphic.

When Larry was a child, his mother would wash his mouth out with soap if he used the F-word.

9/12/06

Jewel DeNyle Cuts Ties With Her Mother

Jewel replies to the ADT question - have you cried for joy?

"Yes when I cut all ties to my mother who looks like a crack whore. I couldn't be happier washing my hands of her and I had tears of joy."

JRV posts: "I'm sure every girl in porn wishes they got this much support from their family when they decided to start performing."

Bipp writes: "I think it is very important that they both get their feelings out there."

Let's Stay Positive About Jewel DeNyle's Mom Going Anal

De'Bella posts on ADT: "I JUST STARTED DOING ANAL AND DP'S ABOUT A MONTH AGO, I ENJOY THE SCENES AND WILL CONTINUE TO PERFORM AS LONG AS DIRECTORS HIRE ME FOR ANAL AND DP SCENES. KIND REGARDS, DE'BELLA"

It's sad when children won't accept and respect their parent's decision to do anal and double penetration on camera.

I wish people weren't so judgmental.

DeBella posts on ADT: "I have been asked to be on the Jerry Springer Show, What do you think? I'm going to be on The Howard Stern Show Nov. 29th. I am only thinking about going on. But only as De'Bella, not Jewel's Mom. If they would bring it up i will change the subject. This is about me not Jewel. I love her and would never say anything to disrespect her."

Bono writes: "To be perfectly honest I wish you wouldn't do it. I've seen that show a few times and it truly is a big circus and it only gets worse depending on the topic. The audience I think is not there for a frank discussion on what ever "issue" Jerry has on tap, no it's to watch grown people do very foolish things so they can laugh. I'm all for you being proud and happy with what you're doing now but I don't think the Jerry Springer show is the place you want to go and promote that, that is if you want a truly honest discussion rather than the 3-Ring circus that show is. I make no judgements beyond that, I'd just hate for you to go on there in good faith and then get totally screwed over by him and the crowd."

Pauloh writes: "Go for it. People are too hard on Jerry, it's not his fault that some of his guests behave badly. You can buck that trend. By comporting yourself with dignity, this would be a great chance for you to broaden your exposure and build your fanbase. You have to grab such opportunities when they come along."

Jewel DeNyle wrote:

I won't go on either. But Springer that takes the cake I wouldn't go on there ever they even offered me a huge amount of money and I still wouldn't lower myself to such classless realm of people. As I feel I've tried to make a difference for women in this business not to make a joke of them. But I wouldn't expect anything else from my white trash mother.

How pathetic could someone be to even have to ask if they should go on Springer. I mean how desperate are you?

I really don't care what any of you have to say about this as it's not your mother and if it were then how in the hell would you feel??? You've not been in my shoes and don't know the half of what my parents have put me through so don't comment on things you know nothing about. I have every right to be disgusted with this situation and no mother in hell has the right to discuss her porn life with their daughter it's just gross and crude. She's done things to get attention that are out of line and I won't have any part of it. She's hurt me deeply and my whole life my parents have only thought of themselves no matter what I've done for them.

I don't care if my mom wants to promote her career but every time she's done a promotion it's involved me. I have a problem with that, as she should be a mother to me and leave her career out of our relationship. She's crossed the line and for that it's unforgivable. And Ramsey my dear you've never liked me and whatever it is I do you do the opposite and your comments make me laugh now as you've become the hateful vindictive one. Enjoy my mothers work so be it but don't smear my career and all I've stood for as a hard working woman into a circus act of a desperate mother trying desperately to get attention. I'll have no part of it.

De'Bella posts:

As for my daughter I just love her so much, she does not realize what this is doing to me. The only thing she reads about me is on these threads, I do not mention her name to promote myself, I can not help that people who write articles know who I am and they write about it. I refrain from mentioning her at all, even though I am so proud to say that she is my daughter. I have all respect for her and what she has accomplished. Someday things might be like they use to be. I will never say anything to disrespect my daughter. I love her with all my heart.

I have not spoke anything wrong, I do not bring up the topic of my daughter, others do and I respond. I have that right. I am my own person and I am a grown woman and make my own decisions. Would you let your children choose your lifestyle when you have already raised them? I would speak with her in private if she would be willing. But she is not, so how do you talk without personal communication? I know that she reads these threads and that's the only way i can say to her how I feel.

Stormy Daniels posts:

I have to agree with Jewel 100% on this one. (Although the personal stuff with her mother is none of my business and I have no comment on it.) NOTHING good can come from doing Springer (or any similar show). It is terrible not only for the performer on the show, but it is detrimental to all the women in our business and therefore a very irresponsible thing to do. I feel that to do a show or publicity stunt like this (or acting like a moron while running for governor) is a very selfish act. These people eat it up...and not because they like you. They do it to make fun of adult actresses and portray us all in a bad light. It is the producers sole agenda to get ratings by creating controversy. People who watch shows like Springer are not interested in hearing how intelligent, talented, or business savvy we are. They want to hear about our substance abuse problems, abusive childhoods, and what whores we are. One negative clip on television can undo so much hard work that ladies such as Jewel and myself (and many others) have done.

The Times’ piece on December 31, “The Graying of the Naughty,” was a triumph for porn PR. And it was a smooth fit for newspaper demographics, readers over 50. De’Bella is the featured player in the story on older women in adult films. “De’Bella’s husband, Larry Schwartz, is fully supportive,” the story notes, and their daughter, Jewell De’Nyle, “started her mother down the same path.”

The paper of record leaves its readers with the impression of a happy porn family. Only those in Pornlandia who have followed the blow-by-blow accounts of this family saga know otherwise. On ADT, two months before the Times story ran, Jewell declined an appearance on the Howard Stern show with her mother, reiterating that her mom, “riding my coat tails makes her look plain stupid.” Jewell also went after her father big time, saying “He lost his job in politics that I took the liberty of trying to cover up for him because he slept with his 16-year-old adopted daughter,” Jewell’s step-sister.

Now the Times should not be faulted for leaving out a charge of statutory rape. But it does sound credible given the background of De’Bella’s supportive husband which could have been mentioned in the story, and was detailed in the Rocky Mountain News on August 7, 2004. Schwartz served as a Republican from 1995 to 1997 in the Colorado state legislature, was then appointed by the Governor to a seat on the Colorado State Parole Board. In 2001 a therapist told the police Schwartz had molested one of her clients and said two other members of his family had been victimized. The police raided his house, carting off porn mags and video tapes, many of them with pics of Jewell, and 15 comic books alleged to depict children having sex.

No charges were ever filed against Schwartz, but he was fired from his job on the Parole Board, and needless to say, it was time for the conservative politician to bolt out of Colorado. So out of a job and sunk in a scandal, where does he go? Porn Valley to set up shop with his wife and daughter.

Jewell said she started Platinum X to give both her parents jobs, put all her life savings in the company to “get them back on their feet.” I believe she is telling the truth, but here’s what I don’t understand. Along the way did her parents get control of the company? If so, how did that happen? In effect, did they rip Jewell off? Maybe I missed details on this in trolling the adult web sites. In any case, I’d like the answers to these questions.