STAFFORD, Va. - A grand jury indicted a local sex shop along with its two owners on charges of violating the state's obscenity laws.
The Free-Lance Star reported that Pheromoans Inc., Meagan J. Pacheco, 26, and Lesley O. Mason, 27, have each been charged with three misdemeanor counts. Each charge carries a maximum penalty of 12 months in jail and a $2,500 fine.
The report said that the business, which has taken criticism from local residents, is billed as a lingerie boutique, but battery-operated sex toys and adult DVDs are also sold there.
The statute that the business has violated is somewhat vague and The Free-Lance Star reported that Stafford Commonwealth's Attorney Dan Chichester was not available yesterday to explain why charges were filed against the business itself or what led to the investigation.
The records, however, did indicate that Detectives John Hughes and Chad Oxley purchased adult movies from the business as part of the investigation and that all nine indictments state in part that the defendants did "knowingly publish, sell, rent, lend, transport in intrastate commerce, or distribute or exhibit any obscene item."
Rachael Goldstein, an attorney who represents the business, told The Free-Lance Star that her firm is aware of the criminal charges but could not comment at this time.
