LJWorld.com / Grand jury won't indict in obscenity case

Archive for Wednesday, May 4, 2005

The Associated Press

May 4, 2005

Salina — Phillip Cosby says his campaign against pornography shops in Kansas won't be sidelined by a grand jury's refusal to bring charges against two adult stores.

Asked if he was giving up his fight, Cosby, of nearby Abilene, said Tuesday, "No sir, we are 19 months into this thing. It's the bottom of the third inning, and somebody in one of these towns is going to hit it out of the park."

After Cosby met twice last year with people in Salina, church groups started circulating petitions in October requesting a grand jury investigation of two adult stores.

The grand jury began its work last month and wrapped up Friday without issuing an indictments against Behind Closed Doors or Priscilla's.

Saline County District Judge Daniel Hebert said the 15-member panel was dissolved after it returned a report that it wasn't issuing any indictments.

Cosby began his anti-porn campaign in 2003, when an adult store opened off Interstate 70, north of town. Near the store is a billboard that Cosby and others put up proclaiming: "Jesus Heals and Restores. Pornography Destroys."

In Abilene last year, a Dickinson County grand jury was impaneled by a citizen petition drive led by Cosby and others. It returned a 29-count indictment against the store, but it was thrown out in March on technical grounds.

County Atty. Keith Hoffman then filed a 10-count misdemeanor complaint against the store, accusing it of illegally promoting obscenity. A preliminary hearing is set for Tuesday.

Mike Zrubeck, owner of Behind Closed Doors, said he was surprised the grand jury's decision came so quickly. "It's real good news," he said.