An investigation that began after parents complained their children were buying obscene videos at school has resulted in the indictment of 10 people and four companies - including a Utah company - which broadcast movies via satellite.
U.S. Satellite Inc., 935 W. Bullion, in Murray, was among the companies named in the indictment released Friday. Other companies are General Telephone and Electronics Corp. (GTE) of Stamford, Conn.; a GTE subsidiary, GTE Spacenet Inc., of McLean, Va.; and Home Dish Satellite Networks Inc., of New York City, also known as the American Exxxtasy Channel.An attorney for U.S. Satellite Inc. said he had not seen the indictments and could not comment on them.
Montgomery County District Attorney Jimmy Evans described the 18-count indictment as "the largest, most pervasive obscenity prosecution ever conducted."
He said the charges involved allegedly obscene videos with titles such as "Hardcore Girlfriends" and "Fantasy Chamber." The videos were illegally broadcast into Alabama on the American Exxxtasy Channel, Evans charged.
The indictments could result in a maximum of 36 years in prison and a $540,000 fine against each defendant if convicted under the state's anti-obscenity law. The state also could seize property and profits, which Evans said could reach into the millions of dollars.
The individuals named in the indictments were not identified because they live outside Alabama and have not been served with the papers, Evans said.
Utah Gov. Norm Bangerter, Alabama Gov. Guy Hunt and the governors of Virginia and New York will be asked to arrange extradition of those defendants to Alabama, the prosecutor said.
"The movies had been taped by other students off satellite dish transmissions," Evans said.