Video Store Accused of Obscenity-This Day In Norwood History-June 15, 1991

Video Haven Owner Faces Obscenity Charges in Dedham Court After Refusing Police Demand

Norwood police filed obscenity charges against the owner of a Washington Street video store Friday after she refused their requests to stop renting or selling adult videos. Daina R. Laverty, owner of Video Haven, pleaded innocent in Dedham District Court to two counts of disseminating obscene matter and one count of possession of obscene matter with intent to disseminate. “It is the opinion of the Norwood Police Department and officials of the district attorney’s office that the evidence fits the definitions of obscenity as outlined by Massachusetts law,” Police Chief George DiBlasi said in a written statement.

The Civil Liberties Union of Massachusetts called the prosecution a case of censorship and said it will assist in Laverty‘s defense. “We believe people ought to have access to whatever they want to see or read.” said John Roberts of the Civil Liberties Union. “The state shouldn’t be involved in censoring content or materials.” Laverty‘s lawyer, Regina Quinlan of Boston, said the video store owner’s constitutional freedoms and those of her Norwood customers are at stake. She said there was an obvious demand in Norwood for adult films, which made up 20 to 30 percent of Video Haven‘s business. “If (customers) choose not to rent or purchase, the business would close.” Quinlan said. “If consenting adults do want access, it is protected by the First Amendment.”

Quinlan said she did not know how many adult videos are available at Video Haven or how long the business has been operating. She also declined to say whether Video Haven is still renting the tapes police believe are obscene. Laverty did not return telephone calls Friday. Norwood Police said they brought complaints against Laverty after she refused to stop selling or renting adult videos. Exactly what makes a videotape obscene is a gray area under the law. Obscenity is defined by community standards on a county-by-county basis, according to Norwood Police Sgt. William Brooks.

A crackdown by police against adult videos in Norwood began early last month when detectives took a dozen videos from Buck’s Place, a Vanderbilt Avenue variety store. The investigation then spread to three other stores — Video Haven, Sights and Sounds on Broadway and Leisure Time on Washington Street. Police borrowed adult videos from Video Haven and Leisure Time and viewed them to decide whether they were obscene. Sights and Sounds owner Lenny Trieber told police he had stopped carrying adult videos before their inquiries. Buck’s Place and Leisure Time agreed to stop selling or renting adult videos, but Video Haven refused, according to DiBlasi.

Norwood selectmen, who were notified in advance by police that some video business might be taken to court, had mixed reactions about the case Friday. Selectman Gary Lee said he “100 percent behind the chief’s action.” Lee said the town must take swift action against alleged obscenity. “I’d be damned if things like this were going to take root in this community,” Lee said. “The law is there. You don’t roll over and play dead when things like this come to your community.” But Selectmen John Kinnaly and Joseph Curran said they were worried the town was wasting time and money on a controversial case it might lose. “I think it’s a waste of time,” Kinnaly said. “I’m certainly not in favor (of adult videos). But I think a case like this just gives the shop more publicity. Before this, the average person didn’t know it was there.” Curran said Norwood should have waited until the court decided Dedham’s Video Expo case. “I’m opposed to (adult videos) but I’m opposed to having a case at this time,” Curran said. Laverty was freed on personal recognizance after pleading innocent Friday. A pretrial conference has been scheduled for July 10 in Dedham District Court.

Archival Note: This article has been dynamically reconstructed from the original public record print archives of the Patriot Ledger