UPDATED: Brian, the DA's spokesman, wrote back with a couple of notes. One, the grand jury was initiated by a petition drive, and grand juries get to decide what they're presented with. There are 15 citizens on a grand jury -- 12 of them have to agree before an indictment is issued.
He also points out the statutes that apply in this case. To see, go to http://www.kslegislature.org/legsrv-statutes/index.do, and look for 21-4502 and 21-4301.
UPDATED: OK, we've got the indictments, courtesy of Diane Carroll, who covers Johnson County courts. They're downloadable as Word documents. They might have language you consider objectionable.
Spirit Halloween
-- accused of selling "Country Lovin'", "Tricky Dick," "Wet T-Shirt" and "Snake Charmer" costumes. (Don't exactly know what they look like.)
Priscilla's -- accused of selling a series of sex toys, including a dildo, and a DVD with a title that my editor would kill me if I printed.
Hollywood at Home -- accused of selling adult DVDs.
PREVIOUSLY: A JoCo grand jury has indicted three businesses on charges of promoting obscenity. You know, I'm a little surprised it's gotten to this point. The grand jury's done a lot of work, but it seems like they talked everything BUT obscenity, until now.
Johnson County does have a clearly spelled-out list of what is and isn't considered a breach of community standards, though, as established by a grand jury in 1989. Selling a porno movie that lacks a "significant storyline or plot" is a no-no under those rules. But I'm not sure how closely this grand jury consulted the old report.
Again, I don't know any of these businesses -- or what they're accused of selling. Maybe it's something truly obscene. I'm curious to see what specifically the grand jury reviewed. A little help, gentle reader: Does anybody have any experience with these stores?
From Sara Shepherd's story:
A grand jury has accused three Johnson County businesses of promoting obscenity, according to indictments handed down late Tuesday. ... Each of the three businesses was indicted on multiple counts, all misdemeanors.
According to court documents:
• Spirit Halloween, 6824 W. 119th St. in Overland Park, displayed adult costumes where minors could view them.
• Hollywood at Home, 9063 Metcalf Avenue in Overland Park, “unlawfully and knowingly or recklessly” possessed and intended to sell obscene DVDs.
• Priscilla’s, 1848 East Santa Fe St. in Olathe, possessed and intended to sell various obscene devices and an obscene DVD.
