STAUNTON, Virginia — Former Staunton Police Chief Butch Wells did not qualify as an expert witness for the prosecution this afternoon in the obscenity trial of After Hours Video.

Staunton Prosecutor Raymond C. Robertson had hoped to get Wells, the city’s police chief from 1986-2003, qualified as an expert witness on Staunton’s community standards.

Defense attorney Paul Cambria Jr. argued that Wells doesn’t represent a cross section of the community. “It’s clear that these are his personal opinions,” he said.

Outside the presence of the jury, which was excused while the court determined Wells’ qualifications as an expert witness, the former chief testified that since 1971, when he moved to the city, there have been no brothels and peep shows, and just one incident of prostitution. He did not recall any businesses that sold videos with adult sexual content.

After nearly an hour of deliberations, Circuit Judge Thomas H. Wood said, “Based on the cases I’ve read, he isn’t an expert.”

The jury is now watching its second DVD of the day. The movie was purchased by undercover police in October at After Hours Video on Springhill Road.