STAUNTON, Virginia — Jurors are watching the first of two videos in the obscenity trial of After Hours Video.
Prior to the viewing, the defense team objected to the videos in question, saying their was no chain of evidence ensuring that the videos inside the DVD boxes were the same videos purchased by undercover police in October. Circuit Judge Thomas H. Wood ruled against the motion.
In other news: The judge in the obscenity trial involving the owner and an employee of After Hours Video in Staunton ruled this morning that evidence from other area businesses that sold DVDs with adult content will be allowed.
However, Circuit Court Judge Thomas H. Wood said adult content viewed via satellite and Internet as a barometer of "community standards" will not be admitted, because Wood said no evidence exists as to the consumption of the content.
Wood's ruling was a response to an objection made by Staunton Prosecutor Raymond C. Robertson near the end of Wednesday's testimony.
During the testimony of Investigator Mike King of the Staunton Police Department, defense attorney Paul Cambria, who is representing After Hours Video owner Rick Krial, wanted to find out if Staunton stores such as Crossroads CDs & Tapes and Desire's Consignment & More also were targeted by police for selling DVDs with adult content. The line of questioning brought an immediate objection from Robertson. The jury was excused from the courtroom.
"They ceased after the charges were brought," Cambria said Wednesday of the two stores. "We think that's relevant for the jury to know."
Cambria further argued that sexually explicit content for adults is already widely available in Staunton through satellite television and the Internet, and wondered aloud why Robertson's co-counsel, Matthew Buzzelli, an obscenity attorney with the United States Department of Justice, didn't go after local Internet providers as well.
