Manslaughter Charges Against Nacho Vidal Dropped

VALENCIA, Spain—Spanish news outlet The Olive Press reports that charges levied against AVN Hall of Fame performer Nacho Vidal for involuntary manslaughter in the 2019 death of a fashion photographer in Vidal home's have been provisionally dropped by a Valencia court. Vidal was arrested in June 2020 in connection with the death, which occured after the photographer, Jose Luis Abad, took part in a "toad venom ritual" at Vidal's Valencia home that may have been meant as an attempt to "detoxify" him. According to reports at the time, the ritual involved inhaling a hallucinogenic substance secreted by the Bufo toad that is believed to have healing powers that can cure addictions. Vidal was released on bail shortly after his arrest, though his passport was withdrawn pending further legal proceedings. The new ruling from the Valencia court, which came down Monday, found that Abad had "voluntarily submitt[ed] to the ceremony" after "having previously consumed cocaine," according to Spanish news site ABC. A coroner's report determined that the mixture of the toad venom with the cocaine in Abad's system had a fatal effect. The dismissal of the case may still be challenged by the plaintiff, ABC notes.