Grand Jury Indicts Store for "Obscene" Halloween Costumes. You might want to check out this unbelievable indictment.

A Johnson County, Kansas grand jury has indicted a costume store for displaying four costumes the grand jury says are "obscenity harmful to minors." The costumes are "Country Lovin'", "Tricky Dick," "Wet T-Shirt" and "Snake Charmer".

You can check them out at:
http://www.frightcatalog.com/Halloween-Costumes/Funny+Costumes/Country+Lovin+Costume-1103040/
http://www.spirithalloween.com/mens-costumes_funny-costumes/inflatable-costume-adult-tricky-dick/
http://www.spirithalloween.com/mens-costumes_funny-costumes/wet-t-shirt-winner/
http://www.spirithalloween.com/mens-costumes_funny-costumes/snake-charmer-adult-costume/

Crude? Perhaps. "Obscene", I don't think so.

You can check out the indictment at indictments:
http://blogs.kansascity.com/crime_scene/2007/09/joco-grand-jury.html (The store is Spirit Halloween, a subsidiary of Spencer Gifts).

I guess this adds a new adage to the law: "A grand jury will indict a Halloween costume if the DA asks them to."

There's an interesting backstory to the grand jury, which was convened as a result of citizen petitions circulated by a religious group, with a non-exclusive charge to go after obscene materials in the county.

See http://www.kansascity.com/115/story/291097.html

Sean Bersell
Vice President, Public Affairs
Entertainment Merchants Association
16530 Ventura Boulevard, Suite 400
Encino, CA 91436
Phone: 818-728-8663 -- Fax: 818-385-0567
sbersell@entmerch.org
www.EntertainmentMerchantsAssociation.org