OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — The owner of Dr. John's adult novelty stores was led to jail in handcuffs Thursday for selling obscene material in Omaha.
John Haltom and business partner John Coil operate Utah stores in Midvale and Roy. Last month, Haltom lost a Utah Supreme Court appeal challenging the constitutionality of the state's sexually oriented licensing law.
Haltom refused to apply for a sexually oriented business license, although his Midvale store predominantly dealt in sexual devices, a state judge ruled.
His store is still open in Midvale, although he has a permanent injunction against him from selling adult material. Now, the store sells novelties, swim wear and gifts.
Haltom has said he will appeal the state supreme court's ruling.
In Omaha, Haltom had fought a three-year battle in the first test of obscenity standards in the city since the 1970s. Prosecutors argued that Haltom sold explicit videos at the store at 72nd and Pacific streets that went beyond community standards under state obscenity laws.
Haltom said the tapes were not obscene.
A jury convicted Haltom in July 2000 and the Nebraska Supreme Court upheld his nine-month jail sentence last fall.
At a hearing Thursday, Douglas County Judge Joseph Caniglia ordered Haltom to serve that sentence and pay a $1,000 fine.