BY STEVE KEMME
The Cincinnati Enquirer
HAMILTON -- A second Butler County adult video store owner faces a possible indictment on obscenity charges.
Authorities have accused Lloyd Davidson, owner of Millville Video, of selling three obscene videos to an undercover deputy. The videos -- titled Man Made, Agony of Arianna and Story of Ouch -- were sold to the deputy Feb. 18 at the store.
Mr. Davidson, 61, is charged with two counts of pandering obscenity. Judge J.B. Connaughton of Butler County Area II Court in Hamilton will determine at an April 22 hearing whether the case will be sent to a grand jury.
A hearing was scheduled for Wednesday, but it was postponed because the defense attorneys had not had the opportunity to view the videos. The prosecution gave them copies Wednesday.
Mr. Davidson, whose store also rents and sells mainstream videos, said he was charged because of the recent charges filed against Peter Tomaino, the owner of VIP Video, which is around the corner from Millville Video.
In December, a Butler County grand jury indicted Mr. Tomaino, his store and a clerk for allegedly selling four adult videos to a 17-year-old boy. That trial is scheduled for May 18 before Butler County Common Pleas Judge H.J. Bressler.
In February, Mr. Tomaino was charged with two counts of pandering obscenity.
"They probably figured it would look bad if they charged (Mr. Tomaino) and didn't do something to me, too," Mr. Davidson said. "I've been renting and selling adult videos here for 8 1/2 years. Until now, no charges have ever been filed against me."
Mr. Davidson said the adult videos are in a back room that he and other store employees permit only those 21 or older to enter.
"We run a tight ship," he said.
H. Louis Sirkin, the attorney for Mr. Davidson and Mr. Tomaino, said a link can be drawn between the Butler County cases and the case against Hustler publisher Larry Flynt in Hamilton County. Mr. Sirkin also represents Mr. Flynt.
Mr. Flynt and his brother, Jimmy, were indicted Tuesday on obscenity and corruption charges involving the sale of 16 videos at his downtown Cincinnati store.
Mr. Sirkin said people connected with the Citizens for Community Values group have complained about the Butler County stores, strip clubs in Clermont and Warren counties and Mr. Flynt's Hustler store in Cincinnati.
"The same group of people who made a big stink about the Hustler store made a big stink about the Millville stores," he said. "Many of them don't even live in Butler County."
