The owners of six adult book and video stores, who were already facing obscenity charges, were indicted on similar charges by a Kansas Grand Jury Tuesday.
According to court papers, the owners of Circle Cinema and After Dark were slapped with several obscenity charges involving their Sinsations and Adult Entertainment Center stores as well as another After Dark location, all located in Topeka, Kan.
Last month, Shawnee County District Attorney’s Office charged Hiunion Inc. with misdemeanors of selling and distributing obscene material when it sold sex toys, magazines such as Freaky Fetishes and videos such as Caught Masturbating 3, The Art of Anal Group Sex and All Girl Asslicking.
The latest charges, which echo the earlier accusations, come two weeks after the company’s attorneys sought jury trial on the earlier case. A trial date for that matter is still pending.
Since individuals were not charged in the indictments, penalties could range from heavy fines to the stores’ closure or both, according to state law.
Kansas prosecutors have been under pressure from conservative groups using a state law that allows citizens to force a Grand Jury investigation by collecting 1,300 signatures on a petition.
Last year, anti-porn activist Phillip C. Cosby and Topeka Evangelical Area Ministries president Paul Barnes failed to force an investigation of several adult stores in Topeka despite gathering sufficient signatures.
This latest case, however, is the result of a police investigation, documents show.
Hiunion officials say they are seeking support for their defense fund. Those interested may contact [email protected] for more information.
