STAUNTON, Virginia [News Leader] — The criminal case against a Manassas man and his adult video business here will see court action for the first time today when Staunton prosecutor Raymond C. Robertson argues to prohibit a well-known obscenity trial attorney from representing the defendant.

In September, Robertson called a special grand jury, which indicted Rick E. Krial, 40, on eight felony obscenity charges and four misdemeanors.

The target of Robertson’s investigation, After Hours Video on Springhill Road, sold 12 videos to local undercover agents in October, videos Robertson deemed obscene. Krial’s company, LSP of Virginia, also was hit with 12 felonies and four misdemeanors.

After Hours Video opened Oct. 7.

Krial hired local attorney Tate Love to represent him. Two weeks ago, Love filed a motion to allow Paul Cambria Jr., one of the country’s top obscenity lawyers, to enter the case with two of his Buffalo, N.Y., associates.

On Nov. 13, Robertson filed an answer to Love’s motion in an attempt to bar Cambria and the other attorneys from representing Krial. Robertson argued that the porn industry is paying the tab for Krial’s Buffalo defense team and said if that’s the case any verdicts favorable to the Commonwealth would be subject to appeal.

Staunton City Sheriff Alex Caldwell said he’ll add courtroom deputies for today’s motions hearing. “I’m going to staff a couple extra people, but I’m not expecting the volume of people that would come for the actual trial,” he said.

Caldwell said he’s been alerted to the possibility some major news outlets might be interested. “I’ve heard rumors that CNN could possibly come at one time or another,” Caldwell said. But as of Monday morning, he said no media outlets had filled out the required paperwork for cameras inside the courtroom.