Oh this is BULLSHIT!!

SAMAS · Post by **SAMAS** » 2003-02-13 01:37am

http://forums.comicbookresources.com/sh ... adid=47665

From the February 05, 2003 Las Vegas CityLife:

February 05, 2003
The First Amendment, Texas-style: Comic books remain dangerous into the 21st century

By Frank Beaton

Jesus Castillo, 31, is a convicted criminal. He's been sentenced to six months in prison, a $4,000 fine and one year of probation. His crime: Selling an adult comic book to - wait for it - an adult.

It all started in November of 1999, when a woman stormed out of Keith's Comics in Dallas, Texas, upset over the price of Pokemon cards. She threatened store manager Castillo, insisting that she could easily have the place shut down. "I know important people," she said. "All I have to do is tell them what you're selling here."

The next week, a fiery letter appeared in a local newspaper, presumably written by the same woman, alleging that Keith's Comics was part of a vast conspiracy determined to corrupt our children with "unwholesome themes and exceptionally sensually alluring images." Several Bible verses were quoted. Strangely, the letter was reprinted a few days later. When Castillo asked why such a spiteful letter was printed twice in the same week, the paper's editor assured him that it was an honest mistake. Then he printed it again.

The letter soon found its way into the Dallas PTA newsletter, where the editors added a note about Keith's being "under investigation." Fearing the worst, Castillo contacted the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund, a nonprofit anti-censorship organization that assists artists and retailers involved in free-speech cases. The CBLDF said they would keep an eye on it.

A few weeks later, an unassuming man walked into Keith's and asked for a copy of Demon Beast Invasion #2, a particularly graphic Japanese horror comic featuring explicit scenes of women being raped by tentacled monsters (something of a theme in Japanese porn). The book was kept behind the counter in a special "Adults Only" section. Castillo checked the man's ID, rang up the sale, and told him to have a nice day. The next morning, three Dallas police officers entered the store and arrested Jesus for promoting obscenity.

The CBLDF agreed to take Castillo's case. During the trial, they produced a string of expert witnesses, including Understanding Comics author Scott McCloud and Dr. Susan Napier, professor of Japanese Literature and Culture at the University of Texas. McCloud and Napier argued that, while the book is certainly graphic, it has literary value and is therefore not legally obscene. They talked at length about the popularity and variety of comics in Japan, and argued that it was unfair to judge Demon Beast Invasion, a multi-part serialized story, by looking at a single chapter, no matter how "offensive" that chapter may be. The defense pointed out that Castillo acted responsibly, and that at no time was the material available to minors.

The state of Texas produced no rebuttal witnesses, their only witness being Craig Reynerson, the undercover cop who purchased the book. Nor did they use the "Miller Test" - a standard process used to determine obscenity - to question the book's artistic merit. Instead, they relied entirely on Reynerson's testimony and the D.A.'s closing argument, which reads like a really hateful episode of "Matlock."

The prosecution urged jurors to use their "common sense" in determining whether the material was in fact intended for children, despite the "Not For Children" label on the book's cover. "I don't care what type of evidence or what type of testimony is out there," said the lead prosecutor, "Comic books ... are for kids. [The material] is put in a medium, in a forum, to directly appeal to kids. ... We're here to get this off the shelf." The D.A. also used the store's location - a quarter mile mile from an elementary school - as further proof that Keith's was attempting to subvert the youth of Dallas. When the defense pointed out that an adult video store was operating even closer to the school, selling material that made Demon Beast look downright tame, the prosecution responded with, "Well, we may have to look at them, too."

It took the jury only four hours to find Castillo guilty.

After two lengthy appeals, both of which were denied via postcard, the CBLDF has decided to appeal the case to the United States Supreme Court, a first for the organization. "It's shameful that Jesus is facing these charges for responsibly selling adult material to an adult," says CBLDF Director Charles Brownstein in a statement on the Fund's website (www.cbldf.org). "While it's anyone's guess whether the high court will hear the case, it is our responsibility to this industry to take this fight as far as we can."

Somebody HURT these people!!

Hamel · Post by **Hamel** » 2003-02-13 01:39am

BAD FORM

Post by **Darth Wong** » 2003-02-13 01:41am

And the star-spangled banner forever shall wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave!

Post by **Gandalf** » 2003-02-13 01:45am

There was a Simpsons comic like that a while ago, strikingly similar.

Post by **Darth Wong** » 2003-02-13 01:46am

<SARCASM>Gee, what shocking news. Prudish, religion-motivated intolerance in Texas, of all places. Excuse me while I fall over from the sheer surprise of it all. Who woulda thunk it?</SARCASM>

Sokar · Post by **Sokar** » 2003-02-13 01:49am

I hate to be a prick , but he really should have known better than to even stock that title in of all places Texas. I know several comic book store owners , and most won't even touch the Japanese stuff due to this very scenario. Sure they, will order it for you as a special order , but it never sees direct sales or the sales floor. It just entails far to much risk to them and their store.

Its been a long held opinion of mine that my countrymen have no fucking clue how to deal with the level of freedon that is wrapped up in the Bill of Rights. Most wont even notice one day when they are gone , and will probably be happy it happened. Liberty is wasted on most of America.

Post by **Dalton** » 2003-02-13 02:09am

Non Sequitur

Eerily appropriate.

CyberianKnight · Post by **CyberianKnight** » 2003-02-13 02:13am

Hunt and kill the bitch

Rubberanvil · Post by **Rubberanvil** » 2003-02-13 02:17am

Sokar wrote:I hate to be a prick , but he really should have known better than to even stock that title in of all places Texas. I know several comic book store owners , and most won't even touch the Japanese stuff due to this very scenario. Sure they, will order it for you as a special order , but it never sees direct sales or the sales floor. It just entails far to much risk to them and their store.

Your talking about the same state another comic dealer was busted for a reguler DC official Superman comic. And yet there's porn shops and no one bothering them.

Post by **Coyote** » 2003-02-13 02:19am

The next morning, three Dallas police officers entered the store and arrested Jesus for promoting obscenity.

I find something oddly amusing about that sentence.

Rubberanvil · Post by **Rubberanvil** » 2003-02-13 02:22am

Darth Wong wrote:<SARCASM>Gee, what shocking news. Prudish, religion-motivated intolerance in Texas, of all places. Excuse me while I fall over from the sheer surprise of it all. Who woulda thunk it?</SARCASM>

Only thing keeping the religous nuts from doing any more damage is American football. Touch those sacred cows and all of the various Christian denominations will turn on the offending person.

generator_g1 · Post by **generator_g1** » 2003-02-13 02:26am

Good thing I live in Manila...stuff like that never happens here....

Post by **Dalton** » 2003-02-13 02:28am

generator_g1 wrote:Good thing I live in Manila...stuff like that never happens here....

Mmm, Manila? I just finished reading a book where Manila was a prime location (does the "Intramuros" exist?). You have less idiocy in power over there, I take it?

Post by **Vympel** » 2003-02-13 02:35am

This is infuriating. I would remind everyone that a massive witchhunt against comics was conducted in the 1950s. I have a history of Marvel comics book that lays out what happened- quite depressing.

Darth Fanboy · Post by **Darth Fanboy** » 2003-02-13 02:42am

Ironic that the name of the defendant is "Jesus" Castillo.

think of the potential for headlines

"JESUS castillo ARRESSTED FOR SELLING GRAPHIC IMAGES"[/quote]

Post by **Darth Wong** » 2003-02-13 02:50am

You have the right to life, liberty, and the ability to get together with 11 similarly close-minded individuals in a jury room and ruin someone's life for offending your religious sensibilities. God bless America.

Stuart Mackey · Post by **Stuart Mackey** » 2003-02-13 03:05am

Rubberanvil wrote:
Sokar wrote:I hate to be a prick , but he really should have known better than to even stock that title in of all places Texas. I know several comic book store owners , and most won't even touch the Japanese stuff due to this very scenario. Sure they, will order it for you as a special order , but it never sees direct sales or the sales floor. It just entails far to much risk to them and their store.
Your talking about the same state another comic dealer was busted for a reguler DC official Superman comic. And yet there's porn shops and no one bothering them.

There you go, stupidity in action.

Frank Hipper · Post by **Frank Hipper** » 2003-02-13 03:07am

3 out 15 replies are Darth Wong's, and he's not even debating anyone. Ragnarok class stupidity found in this case.
This really gave me heartburn, too. Fucking assholes! I'm tellin' ya, if you ever see Hipper brand dog food, buy it! You'll know what it's made with.

Shinova · Post by **Shinova** » 2003-02-13 03:10am

I hope the Supreme Court lays the unholy smackdown on those idiots.

Idiots

Stuart Mackey · Post by **Stuart Mackey** » 2003-02-13 03:11am

Darth Wong wrote:You have the right to life, liberty, and the ability to get together with 11 similarly close-minded individuals in a jury room and ruin someone's life for offending your religious sensibilities. God bless America.

USA! USA! USA!

generator_g1 · Post by **generator_g1** » 2003-02-13 03:13am

Dalton wrote:
generator_g1 wrote:Good thing I live in Manila...stuff like that never happens here....
Mmm, Manila? I just finished reading a book where Manila was a prime location (does the "Intramuros" exist?). You have less idiocy in power over there, I take it?

Intramuros was the old walled city dating back from the Spanish colonization...it's not that there's less idiocy in power here (we had Ferdinand Marcos for president once) but people generally don't make a big religious fuss over comics/anime/manga even though we are the only predominantly Catholic nation here in Asia.

Dalton, what was the book that you just finished reading?

Arthur_Tuxedo · Post by **Arthur_Tuxedo** » 2003-02-13 04:21am

Darth Wong wrote:You have the right to life, liberty, and the ability to get together with 11 similarly close-minded individuals in a jury room and ruin someone's life for offending your religious sensibilities. God bless America.

*rofl* that's going in my sig

Majin Gojira · Post by **Majin Gojira** » 2003-02-13 09:35am

ARGH! The STUPID! IT BUUUURRNS!

Kelly Antilles · Post by **Kelly Antilles** » 2003-02-13 10:47am

Ah, how wonderful. A country that was founded on freedom of religion, yet everyone has to shove their religion down your throat.

The Great Unbearded One · Post by **The Great Unbearded One** » 2003-02-13 10:54am

For most things I just say live and let live....this is one of them thing. It's an adult comic book for fuck sake...*sigh*