Jackson Free Press

When Mayor Frank Melton and two detectives raided an adult novelty store last Thursday, the incident raised a few questions. Disparate reports by local media WLBT-TV and The Clarion-Ledger offered no real conclusions. The two sources reported different names of the bookstore—WLBT-TV named it the Jackson Novelty Video and Movies, while The Clarion-Ledger referred to the store as Terry Road Bookstore.

On July 29, The Clarion-Ledger reported in its crime briefs that the store violated a state statute. The newspaper did not report which statute, but Section 97-29-101 of the Mississippi Code establishes the distribution of obscene materials or obscene performance through selling, renting, publishing or exhibiting, as well as intending to resell such items, as illegal. Knowingly selling, advertising, publishing, or exhibiting any three-dimensional devices designed or marketed as useful primarily for the stimulation of the human genitalia, also referred to as sexual devices, is illegal, found in 97-29-105.

The store is located near a pawn shop and a loan store—not residential spaces—but WLBT said that the store is "in the middle of a Jackson neighborhood."

The Clarion-Ledger reported, "The Terry Road and Porter Street area is not zoned for adult entertainment," but this may not be completely true. Mary Merck, the city zoning administrator, explained that the store could have stayed in that area if it had followed zoning restrictions more closely.

"In a C-3 zone, it was agreed that they keep a very small percentage of adult books, but they had to be covered in some way so that children couldn't see them," she explained. "Stores with more products of adult uses are only permitted in industrial districts."

"I think code enforcers went down there and talked to them, but the offense continues to repeat itself," Merck added.

What The Clarion-Ledger didn't report, though, is the possible presence of illegal sex. In a July 28, 2005, report, WLBT quoted Mayor Frank Melton: "I came in with two detectives, and there were two men in a sex act," Melton said.

The WLBT report said that "arrests" were made in the rear of the store, but the news station only reported one arrest—that of 50-year-old cashier Debra Washington. Sgt. William Gladney of the JPD vice crimes unit confirmed that public sex is illegal, but said he was unsure whether the two men had been arrested.

"I don't know what happened before I got there. We arrested Debra Washington, but I don't know about the two men," he said. Beyond that, the police referred questions about the sex arrests to the mayor's office, which did not respond by press time.

Though both reports noted that police "shut down" the bookstore, Gladney said the store could not be shut down without a court order from the chancery court. "We made an arrest," Gladney said, "but we didn't shut it down."

Previous Comments

ID

64677

Comment

STORE WARS: Episode I: The Phantom Stimulus. Turmoil has engulfed the city of Jackson. The taxation of outlying ìNovelty Shopsî is in dispute. Hoping to resolve the matter with a roadblock of intimidating POLICE CRUISERS, the power-hungry DILDONT FEDERATION has stopped all shipping to the Terry Road Adult Bookstore. While the Jackson City Council forgets to debate this alarming chain of events, the Supreme Chancellor FRANK MELTON has secretly dispatched a pair of CODE ENFORCERS, the guardians of codes and conduct in the city of Jackson, to settle the conflictÖ Terry Road Adult Bookstore: ìRemember our task.î The elder code enforcer told his young trainee. ìWe are here to see that the Codes of the City of Jackson are taken seriously, not to arrest and detain individuals. Thatís up to the SWAT team.î ìYes, Master Jim.î Owen-Bob Kilroy replied. Carl-John Jim was a respected Code Enforcer. Some of the other enforcers said that one day, he too might become a member of the City Council. ìI donít trust these smut peddlers. Surely thereís some code against this?î ìSection 97-29-101 of the Mississippi Code.î Carl-John Jim said with a deep sigh. ìThree-dimensional devices primarily designed to stimulate human genitalia.î ìWhat about non-human genitalia?î Owen-Bob asked. ìThatís none of our business.î Carl-John Jim then approached the counter where a young woman was keeping an eye on the slinking individuals browsing the wares. ìExcuse me, miss, but what is this?î Carl-John asked, placing a long, green cylinder on the countertop. ìThatís a zucchini.î She replied. ìWhere did you get it?î ìIn a Brookshires.î Carl-John said, grimacing. ìRight in the middle of a residential neighborhood. Whatís the zoning of this place?î ìC-3.î The woman replied. ìA tricky situation.î Carl-John said, turning his keen eye to the displays. ìI had best take a few of these booklets home, browse them forÖ improper imagesÖî Suddenly, Owen-Bob gasped. ìMaster Jim, I think those two men are havingÖ sex!î ìCall the Chancellor! Get in a squad of Clone Troopers!î Carl-John shouted, reaching for his trusty code booklet. It flipped open with the familiar fffffwhiiiip that struck dread into the heart of code-breakers everywhere. It was then that Owen-Bob Kilroy knew his destiny; to one day become a great Code Enforcer, protecting peace and justice in Jackson. Öto be continuedÖ

Author

bearded madman

Date

2005-08-04T15:31:19-06:00

ID

64678

Comment

Donna, I feel you should claim bearded madman as a satire writer! ;-)

Author

kaust

Date

2005-08-04T15:51:00-06:00

ID

64679

Comment

You're right. This stuff is feeling print-worthy. Bearded madman, be in touch directly if you're interested in talking more.

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2005-08-04T17:01:59-06:00

ID

64680

Comment

Well, the Star Wars fan in me, which really, really hates Episode I (though I fear this may be getting incredibly off-topic...) is telling me that I've cast this all wrong. If I were to make it a proper parody, The Episode I Supreme Chancellor would be Harvey Johnson. Then, after Chancellor Johnson proves incapable of handling the various menaces of the city, the up-and-coming offical Frank Melton would reveal his campaign for Supreme Chancellor, winning it handily. He would then declare a war on something, like crime, maybe - and congeal his power around the struggle against it, all while increasing the power and size of his military/police force. Then, when the threat is at it's most dire, he would reveal himself to be... the Dark Lord of the Sith! You guys have no idea how drunk I was when I wrote The Phanton Stimulus.

Author

bearded madman

Date

2005-08-05T09:46:40-06:00

ID

64681

Comment

hahahahah love the brookshires part ;)

Author

casey

Date

2005-08-05T13:45:43-06:00

ID

64682

Comment

Brookshires is the work of the devil! Not only do they sell such obvious sex toys as zucchini, squash, cucumbers and bananas, you can buy beer and wine coolers. Why, they even have a florist and sell "romantically" (read: pervertedly!) wrapped chocolates! It's a goddamn sin store, right there in the middle of a neighborhood, next to a Fire Department! Those poor firemen with their muscles and big hoses and... Wait. Off topic. Uhhh. Brookshires! This is no joke! That place is a menace! Why, you could walk in there, buy a cucumber, a pumpkin, a box of chocolates, some flowers and a wine cooler! All the tools some twisted fiend needs to seduce him or her self in an atrocious act of self-pollution when their own defenses against themselves would be down because of the devils' brew! The devil's brew is, to clarify, wine coolers.

Author

bearded madman

Date

2005-08-05T15:22:14-06:00

ID

64683

Comment

madman, I gotta agree with these folks--you really should be writing for the JFP, stat. Hilarious stuff! Cheers, TH

Author

Tom Head

Date

2005-08-05T16:42:26-06:00

ID

64684

Comment

And it's all so well-thought out too! We'll forgive Berded for not putting Johnson as the Chancelor :D

Author

Philip

Date

2005-08-05T17:18:48-06:00

ID

64685

Comment

This made me happy. Or, maybe it was the zucchini.

Author

Lori G

Date

2005-08-08T10:32:13-06:00

ID

64686

Comment

Since I started this mess on another forum, I will say it is hard to argue not to shut the doors of the AVN if the owner is really video taping the unknowing participants. However, that should not detract from the original argument that the banning of "sexual devices" is absurd in this day and time. Any thoughtís on the differences of the story last week to the story this week? BTW: LOL - to bearded madman - good stuff!

Author

pikersam

Date

2005-08-08T14:06:27-06:00

ID

64687

Comment

I certainly wouldn't argue that the doors shouldn't be closed. It sounds like its out-of-control over there. In fact, we made ourselves dizzy last week trying to find out if they actually arrested the men having sex in the store and, if not (and it doesn't sound like they did), why not??? Also, I wonder why they didn't notice these cameras all over the place then? I hope they're sure they're not security cameras, and Melton isn't just justing all over that without checking as he seems to be doing with everything else. That's the kind of thing that would land the city straight into a lawsuit. I'm not saying that's true, but he's not exactly building credibility that he knows what he's talking about before he opens his mouth. Also, and here is a major question: What does he have to do to close the business? And is he doing it? Going on TV and blathering about it is one thing, but where are the arrests of the men having sex? The actual plan for closing the store (sounds like the other media just assumed he had closed it)? These are the real questions. It's one thing to say you're going to demand a judge tell you something; how about having your staff do the research to find out what the procedures are before you show up and start yelling? WLBT story: Mayor Frank Melton says he has had enough. After re-opening late last week, it was business as usual at the A.V.C video store on Terry Road. Now two people have been arrested, the doors are closed, and the mayor hopes the courts will take action. Police tape seals off the entrance to the novelty store. Friday night police went back and found the same activity. "It is over. We are going to close them down and get them out of town," said Melton. On July 28th, officers raided the business and found patrons engaged in sexual activity. Adult paraphernalia, banned in Mississippi, was seized. Around 11:30 Friday night police arrested the stores manager and one patron who Melton says solicited a police officer for sex. But this time authorities noticed something else. Inside the booths in the back, Melton says patrons were being watched. ... The mayor says he will personally ask a chancery court judge to close the shop down. "I want to go into a court of law and have someone explain to me why this is consistently goes on right down the street from a playground and across the street from a church," said Melton.

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2005-08-08T15:05:57-06:00

ID

64688

Comment

My other question: What in the world does the mayor "personally" asking anyone to do something have to do with enforcing and following the law? A judge shouldn't react one way or the other to a mayor asking them for something. That sounds a bit like machine politics to me: Do this for me because I ask you to. I just don't get Melton's rhetoric. I feel like I'm watching a TV drama, not observing a real city and its daily machinations. Truly bizarre.

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2005-08-08T15:08:15-06:00

ID

64689

Comment

Good perspective. I hadn't thought of the "personally" asking aspect of the story. That is a "big" question! Granted, even prostitution doesn't warrant closing the doors in my political spectrum. It is still a "choice" issue at the core. But, the added "activity" at the store is tempering my argument from being strictly in their favor. They definitely need to get their act together over at the shop if they are going to go back in business. If the owner converted the rooms to shelf space, and added more videos or whatever ;-) then they may be back in compliance with the law and allowed to operate as a business in Jackson. Or that is what should happen. That is how a city works with its citizens no matter how it feels about their choices. If Jackson is getting big enough to support a thriving "sex industry" then we have got to have some people with the know how to take it to the net and market themselves as is done in N.O., San Francisco, Houston, New York, etc. Also, many alt. papers run ads for the risquÈ places in town or even full color pullouts as an addition to its regular listing of things to do. Come to think about it, what would the South or MS be like if we didn't have New Orleans? That city pioneered debauchery for the whole country less we forget! Zone it, tax it, but don't ban it! BTW: Are the other shops (are there others??) getting the same treatment as this store or is this a targeted campaign? The latter would be far worst then just checking all the stores to see if they are complying with the laws that are written - however silly the law is.

Author

pikersam

Date

2005-08-08T21:12:51-06:00

ID

64690

Comment

piker, there's only one other I know of in Jackson and I can't promise it's open. It's in an industrial area over near UPS. I agree with what you said also. I have serious issues with our zoning -- PERIOD. Example: this city has lost many opportunities to host taxable tattoo parlors to the 'burbs because of zoning. As for AVC (or whatever it's called these days), I don't know how anything was visible to children (as I heard Melton quoted as saying) because there's NO WINDOWS. As far as I know, you also had to have a membership to view, rent or buy materials. Now, again, I haven't been there in quite a while (porn's not my thing) so it certainly could have changed. Now, the cameras in the back rooms are a concern. I see an easy opportunity to say they were used to prevent intercourse and possibly prostitution. If they were instead used to film sex acts and distributed over the internet (as Melton suggests), that's a whole new issue dealing with privacy. Then again, I suppose you lose rights to privacy when you're having sex in public. Hmmm... Talk about a can of worms. Why don't we get the well-lit and clean Romantic Adventures to buy them out and renovate? That'd save Jacksonians from driving to Byram or Flowood to purchase their skin-flicks, "back massagers" and naughty nighties. ;-)

Author

kaust

Date

2005-08-08T21:52:30-06:00

ID

64691

Comment

We're being much to hard on Frank. Some of your picks and jabs at Frankís expense are in very poor taste and you should all be ashamed. There are some serious issues surrounding this whole event. Frankís obviously known about these problems but hasnít been able to do anything until now. Heís only looking to protect us. After all, we all know weíve slipped now and then. Frankís just trying to remove all temptation. He is trying to keep the prurient interests at bay and we should all be thankful. Why would anyone need any of those implements anyway? I'm sure he's doing the will of the people. Or maybe he's only looking for some backing from the Moral Majority? Or maybe Frank has some other reasoning that none of us understand. Whatever the case, Iím sure his motivation is beyond reproach.

Author

Johann

Date

2005-08-09T10:08:52-06:00

ID

64692

Comment

Oh, the humanity.... Amazon has them too! note: this is a link to an article - not amazon. ;-) There goes internet access in Jackson!

Author

pikersam

Date

2005-08-19T15:26:09-06:00

ID

64693

Comment

Pikersam-someone sent me that earlier today...and by happen chance I was driving by THE 'sex shop' later and all I could think about was Frank trying to find the head office of "Amazon" while wearing a flack jacket. Yes, this makes me a sick and perverted person....but I giggled.

Author

Lori G

Date

2005-08-19T16:20:49-06:00

ID

64694

Comment

Mark Morford is a demi-god. ;-) Straight, pro-women's rights, pro-gay rights, anti-big box, anti-consumerism, and a Buddhist pagan yoga man. He must get tired of my love letters and flowers.

Author

kaust

Date

2005-08-20T07:17:21-06:00

ID

64695

Comment

Speaking of that...Do YOU get tired of my flowers and love letters. I often wonder what kind of woman strikes ole Mark's fancy...because, I'm thinkin' the "Ali" could be it...;)

Author

Lori G

Date

2005-08-20T09:10:49-06:00

ID

64696

Comment

Coincidence or not? I'm sure Mayor Melton is out of town since he hasn't been quoted as the spokesperson for the police this weekend. Oh yeah, another store clerk was shot last night. Let's hope he isn't of Indian origin because I am beginning to think they are being targeted after the two who were shot this Fall. But it's ok since the Chief says we don't need crime stats! WTF?? The papers and news would have ripped HJJ and Chief Moore a new one if they did that in a time when it is obvious that crime is going up as a result of our new administration's policies... Shhh.... they don't want us to know.

Author

pikersam

Date

2005-12-27T11:23:26-06:00

ID

64697

Comment

Intersting article from Montgomery, AL.

Author

pikersam

Date

2006-01-04T18:24:05-06:00

ID

64698

Comment

Now we know why Melton shut the shop down. "Woman Has To Get 6 Stitches After Hit With Sex Toy" Who knew they were so dangerous? I think Melton has watched "Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels" a few too many times. ;-) BTW: This woman is dating a D***! No wonder she has a "little friend!" I do not condone abuse of women - or their toys!

Author

pikersam

Date

2006-01-12T10:43:14-06:00