MIDVALE — John Haltom, also known as "Dr. John," is staring prison time in the face and laughing.
"It's trumped-up stuff," a chuckling Haltom said Thursday after finding out he had been charged with dealing harmful materials to a minor, a third-degree felony. The crime is punishable by up to five years in prison and a $5,000 fine.
Haltom owns the Dr. John's Lingerie and Novelty Boutique, 6885 S. State and scoffs at police and prosecutors' efforts to stop him from operating his shop, saying he came to Midvale because "people were being repressed" there. The boutique has been shut down for a few days since city officials received a restraining order against his operation. Haltom said his lawyers will be in court Friday to get a federal order overriding the city's restraint.
The debate over Haltom's shop centers on whether the boutique is a sexually oriented business. If it is, it requires a sexually oriented business (SOB) license. The SOB license would force restrictions on Haltom's boutique such as requiring him to tint store windows — restrictions Haltom doesn't want. In protest, Haltom had been operating without any business license and was receiving daily citations before the court order. But the licensing debate may take a back seat in lieu of the criminal charges.
Like controversy, indictments aren't a novelty for Haltom. Previously, Haltom was twice convicted in Omaha, Neb., for distributing obscene materials. He is scheduled for a September trial on three counts of distributing obscene materials and one count of distributing obscene materials to a minor. All the pending Nebraska charges carry a maximum punishment of one year in jail and a $1,000 fine. They accuse him of distributing pornographic videos, Omaha City prosecutor Marty Conboy told the Desert News last week.
The Utah case against Haltom, who claims 80 percent of Omahans want him to run for the city's mayor, stems from an Aug. 1 Midvale police sting and also alleges selling adult videos. According to charges filed in 3rd District Court, detectives sent 17-year-old Brittany Pearson into the boutique to purchase a "sexually explicit film." Pearson approached the cash register where Haltom checked her identification and then told another person to sell the girl the video, the charges state. Under Utah law it is illegal to sell sexually explicit material to anyone younger than 18.
"I didn't know she was a minor," said Haltom, who remained free Thursday night although a $25,000 warrant was issued for his arrest.
Haltom expects his Midvale store to reopen today and doesn't seem overly concerned with his most recent criminal trouble, saying the charges are overblown.
"It's kind of like when they sell beer to a minor," he said. "Do they put them in jail? I mean come on. Give me a break."
E-MAIL: bsnyder@desnews.com