ST. LOUIS — Search the Internet for Missouri House candidate Michael J. Colona, and the results extend far beyond his campaign website.

The 67th District hopeful has done work for an adult-entertainment company that sells hard-core pornographic material on the Web and in video stores.

Colona, a St. Louis lawyer, says his role is limited to assuring that minors are not used in the production of sexually explicit materials.

But the founder of the Springfield, Ill., outfit that produces the pornography has contributed to Colona’s election effort, and Colona’s own campaign literature lists him as a member of an adult entertainment industry trade group.

Colona, 39, is one of five city Democrats vying for an open seat in the area around Tower Grove Park. The winner of the August primary will face an uncontested election in November.

So far, Colona leads the field in money — he’s raised close to $40,000 — and has stacked up endorsements from the likes of labor and law enforcement.

His opponents, however, have begun questioning his ties to the pornography business, which Colona defends.

“A small part of my job is to ensure no minors are exploited by the pornography industry,” Colona said in a statement this week. “Some of my opponents want to mischaracterize the work I’ve done. Make no mistake, my work is focused on keeping kids safe.”

There are no allegations that either Colona or the company he has worked for, X99 Media, have engaged in anything illegal.

The company specializes in all-male videos. One of its websites, “Citi Boyz,” invites “above-average looking guys 18 to 22 years old” to be models.

Colona has helped the company comply with federal obscenity regulations that require pornography manufacturers to keep detailed records of the individuals portrayed in film, print or on the Web. As part of federal disclosure requirements, Colona’s name has appeared on the Web and on videos as the “custodian of records” for adult content distributed by X99.

Even so, it’s unclear how much Colona remains associated with the company. Attempts to reach X99, located in a quiet residential area in Springfield, were unsuccessful.

Colona’s statement indicated he is still with the company. In a later interview, though, Colona said he has cut ties with the company.

The Citi Boyz site that previously listed Colona as records-keeper now shows another attorney in Colona’s Central West End law firm, the Stokley Group.

Colona’s name still appears as records-keeper on numerous other pornographic websites that distribute Citi Boyz content and on videos. As records custodian, his name appears on the cover of some videos, and is printed on the surface of the DVD itself.

Colona said he did not know how much money his work for the pornography company has generated — clients pay the law firm, not him, Colona said.

On March 31, Colona’s campaign accepted a check for $325 — the legal maximum — from an individual, Steven Moore, who is listed on Illinois corporation records as the registered agent and organizer of X99. After a reporter asked about the donation, Colona said Thursday that he will donate the check to charity to “avoid the appearance of any type of impropriety.”

Colona described his work for X99 as “over-glorified paper pushing.” However, an adult-entertainment industry trade group — called the Free Speech Coalition — says record-keeping for adult films can be an extensive undertaking.

“Warehouses of files we’re talking about,” said Diane Duke, the coalition’s executive director. “Some of our companies have whole departments dedicated to them.”

Duke said pornography producers must keep on file the name, age and aliases for every performer, with a separate file for each title.

Colona’s website lists him as a member of the coalition, a California-based organization that has fought against federal record-keeping requirements they believe are onerous and too broad.

When asked about his membership in the group, Colona said he was unfamiliar with some of its views.

“I do not condone them and I am resigning immediately from that organization,” Colona said Wednesday.

Colona has been endorsed by unions representing city police and firefighters, who say they are not bothered by his work for the adult entertainment industry.

“He addressed it and talked to me about it,” said Gary Wiegert, president of the police officers’ association. “I’m not worried about it. I don’t think our organization is worried about it.”

St. Louis Alderman Jennifer Florida, a Colona supporter, said she had heard about his ties to the industry. She still supports Colona, but said she is wary about the pornography business.

“As a mom, I would stay very far from that,” said Florida, who also represents the Tower Grove area. “It makes me feel very uncomfortable.”

One of Colona’s four Democratic rivals says she was shocked by the graphic nature of the websites where Colona’s name appears.

“Some of the sites are just — they’ve been forwarded to me, and the names of them — I don’t even want to go there,” said Joan Landmann, who is also a lawyer.

The other candidates in the race are: another lawyer, Robert Stelzer; school district critic Chad Beffa; and political newcomer Emily Jo Pierce.

Michael Mahler, who co-owns a gift shop on South Grand, said he believes voters in the area may be open-minded enough to look past the candidate’s involvement in the pornography business.

Mahler’s store, Cheap Trx, sells the same type of videos as the company that hired Colona. In the 16 years Mahler has been in the neighborhood, he says he has received just one complaint — an anonymous postcard.

“Let’s face it: The product line you are talking about appeals to a lot of people,” Mahler said. “They may not necessarily tell their neighbors they like it.”