Florida- www.floridatoday.com- Few patrons would likely mistake Showboat Adult World for a family matinee.
But an attorney for the business says the theater -- known for its big-screen depictions of sex acts -- should not be mistaken for a place to violate the law.
That point was driven home late Wednesday, after undercover sheriff's agents walked the well-lit halls and arrested three men on charges they exposed themselves while visiting the adult-oriented business at 1800 W. King St.
"There was a period of time some years ago when there were some issues with law enforcement, but the business is now under new management," said Gary S. Edinger,[pictured] a First Amendment attorney representing Showboat. "We've had years of uneventful operation since then. What happened (Wednesday) was an anomaly."
The latest undercover raid, the first since Brevard County officials took the business to court for a nuisance hearing in 2006, was carried out in response to a number of recent complaints, the Brevard County Sheriff's Office said.
"There have been complaints received from there about this type of behavior going on. We reacted to those complaints. It's part of an ongoing investigation," said Mike DeMorat, a spokesman for the sheriff's office.
The three porn shop patrons arrested were 67-year-old William Carroll of Melbourne; Myrell Stuhmer, 57, of Palm Bay; and Stephen Canterbury, 48, of Umatilla.
They were charged with exposure of sexual organs at the business.
The business is advertised as carrying pornographic movies, sex toys and other items, while also having a big-screen theater area where individuals watch pornography on film.
The county's 2006 court case involving the business resulted in a judge ordering the owners to install more lighting and security cameras through the building to monitor the activity of clients, Edinger said.
"The right of the store to show sexually explicit movies is protected," Edinger said. "But when (individual) citizens violate the law, they don't have that protection."
