Alabama- Sheriff’s investigators have raided two Morgan County businesses and confiscated their adult video collections, alleging store owners violated state law by peddling X-rated videos too close to area homes.

Acting on complaints from residents, Sheriff Greg Bartlett said investigators obtained search warrants and executed them simultaneously, seizing more than 800 adult movies.

Bartlett said he plans to file misdemeanor warrants against owners of The Peace Pipe at 585 U.S. 231 S. in Lacey’s Spring and The Smoke Shack at 5365 Alabama 67 S. in Somerville.

“We only confiscated triple-X videos,” Bartlett said. “And those were the only two business we found selling them within 1,000 feet of a residence. We plan on obtaining misdemeanor warrants today or tomorrow and expect arrests to follow.”

State law prohibits the sale of adult movies or other forms of adult-only enterprise within 1,000 feet of a private residence and many public meeting places where minors congregate, including churches, schools, swimming pools, housing projects, day cares and parks.

“We’re going to stop it any way we can,” Bartlett said. “The owners were upset, saying they had a business license, but that doesn’t mean it’s legal to sell the videos.”

Investigators used aerial mapping photos and a laser range finder to determine both businesses operated well within 1,000 feet of a private residence, Bartlett said.

Both stores posted signs reading “Adults Only” and “Must be 19 Years Old to Enter,” and neither violated state statutes by selling pipes, water pipes, accessories and adult novelties, Bartlett said.

A conviction under the Class A misdemeanor charge could bring violators a $10,000 fine and up to a year in the county jail.