Staunton, Virginia- Employees at After Hours Video in Staunton were met with a surprise when they came in to work Monday morning.
Police say someone threw a rock at the front door, causing damage to the glass. Owner Rick Krial [who was on trial for obscenity earlier this month] says police will use surveillance footage to identify the suspect.
While employees believe the person was attempting to steal merchandise, Sergeant Chad Kauffman says police are unsure of the suspect’s motive, “There was not enough evidence at the scene to suggest one way or the other, there was damage done to the door and beyond that it would just be speculation.”
Police say the glass did not shatter because it was reinforced with plastic. Sergeant Kauffman says it’s an open case that will continue to be investigated.
Also: STAUNTON — After Hours Video on Springhill Road has temporarily closed its doors as it reshuffles its inventory.
Vandals also appeared to have targeted the adult business.
The store recently lost a highly publicized court case after Staunton prosecutor Raymond C. Robertson brought obscenity charges in November against the business and its owner, Rick Krial. On Aug. 15, a jury found Krial guilty on a misdemeanor charge of obscenity, and also found the store guilty on a single charge of obscenity.
Although the verdicts have yet to be officially entered by Circuit Judge Thomas H. Wood after he gave the defense team 60 days to file a written motion to have the verdicts thrown out, once entered the convictions could open the door for Robertson to file a plethora of felony charges against Krial and the adult establishment.
The four-day trial focused on two sexually explicit DVDs purchased by undercover police in October. Although both were sexually graphic in nature, just one featured scenes of group sex. It was that movie in particular that garnered guilty verdicts against Krial and his store.
Monday, Robertson said he believes that Paul Cambria Jr., Krial’s attorney, advised his client to rid the store of DVDs that display multiple-partner sex in an effort to comply with “community standards,” a legal term that applies to obscenity cases. But Robertson said he was unimpressed with the effort, and said he let Cambria know his feelings on the matter through an e-mail.
“Reducing the inventory down to one-on-one (sex scenes) doesn’t do anything for me,” the prosecutor said.
Robertson said it was his understanding that jurors found the second video obscene because of scenes that involved anal sex that was immediately followed by oral sex.
“It’s pretty sick stuff,” he said.
Krial and his store could face 16 felony obscenity charges, charges that can’t be pursued until the misdemeanor convictions are accepted. Robertson declined to say what his next step might be, or if he is willing to enter into plea negotiations with Krial.
“I don’t want to talk about negotiations or discussions we might be having,” he said.
Monday afternoon, a sign taped to the front door of After Hours Video read, “Closed to Restock Will Open Tomorrow!” It is unclear how long the business has been closed.