Staunton porn shop closes

The community was not happy when Rick Krial moved his porn business into Staunton 18 months ago. Distressed citizens called and asked if the Republicans could do something ... they knew we had organized and won the Weekday Religious Education issue in 2005 and Marriage Amendment issue in 2006. Under the leadership of now-Councilwoman Andrea Oakes, Kurt Michael, and Councilman Dickie Bell, citizens were organized.

The people spoke up. Rick Krial declared he would not go away. Not only was Staunton put on alert but Augusta County was, too, as word came that someone had been scouting properties for another porn store. Adult business ordinances were needed in both locations.

Now, $150,000 later spent on his defense, Mr. Krial declared it was not worth it, shut down his store, and pulled out.

The Family Foundation recently sent out the following:

Convicted on obscenity charges, Virginia store owner says it's not worth the hassle to continue legal fight.

During the last year and a half, Rick E. Krial spent $150,000 defending his porn business in court.

He says it's not worth it anymore, The News Leader of Staunton, Va., reported.

Staunton Prosecutor Raymond C. Robertson won a conviction against Krial and his company in August on two misdemeanor obscenity charges. The week-long trial pitted Robertson against two of the nation's top obscenity trial lawyers. The porn shop closed after the trial.

"I wasn’t a bit intimidated," Robertson told CitizenLink. "I’ve been doing this stuff for 41 years.

"I’ll bet you a lot more communities in America would find this stuff obscene than not. Some of them are just afraid to go after it."

Krial told the newspaper that if his store stayed open, "They were going to come at me with all the charges they could. Nobody needs this kind of aggravation."

Krial has agreed not to appeal his conviction or reopen the store, The News Leader reported.

Phil Burress, president of Ohio's Citizens for Community Values, has seen similar results in his state.

"The first step is someone needs to call the police department and say, 'Please investigate,' " he said. "If you have an adult bookstore or you have a video store that has a backroom that is selling (obscene) pornography, that is prosecutable in 45 states.

In Milford, Conn., police are doing their part to clean up the community. Six men were arrested during a recent sting at a porn shop. Four were charged with fourth-degree sexual assault, the other two with public indecency.

"The vast majority of the time, when you fight this good fight," Burress said, "you win."

This month's issue of Eighty-One magazine has a cover story on Ray Robertson that is well worth the read.