Florida Criminal Attorney Blog
A convenience store owner and a clerk were arrested Thursday after deputies claim they openly displayed pornography on the store’s shelves.
A 25-year-old Winter Haven man and a 53-year-old Eagle Lake man are facing charges of displaying obscene material harmful to minors. One of the men is facing an additional charge of sale of obscene material to a minor.
According to the Polk County Sheriff’s Office, deputies received a complaint about pornographic magazines like Barely Legal, Hustler and Playboy being openly displayed for sale in the store, which is within walking distance of two schools. The rack that holds the magazines is about 10 feet away from the entrance, according to reports.
Deputies allege that one of them sold two pornographic magazines to an underage boy, who was working with deputies in the investigation.
One of the men allegedly asked the 17-year-old boy for identification, which showed he was underage. He then told the teenager to leave the store and park his car in a space directly in front of the store so he could make sure the teen didn’t have anyone with him, deputies allege.
Deputies also claim that one of the men offered to sell the teenager pornographic DVDs he kept behind the counter.
One of the men was previously arrested in 2012 for selling alcohol to a minor, according to reports.
Owners of convenient stores, as well as employees who work there, always run the risk of obscene materials charges. If police decide to crack down, as this case shows, they will not only face criminal prosecution, but they can potentially lose the business they have worked so hard to build. If you have been the target of an effort by law enforcement to get rid of obscene materials in the community and you happen to be arrested, you need the help of a criminal defense lawyer who can stand up to overzealous prosecutors.
The law surrounding obscene materials can be quite complex. If you have been charged with this offense in Polk County or the surrounding area, our Polk County Criminal Defense Lawyers at Whittel & Melton can help you mount a strong defense to refute the charges. Call us today at 866-608-5529 or contact us online for a free consultation.