According to Louisiana state obscenity law 106.1, it is illegal to sell sex toys, but not to possess them.
“You can put it in your night stand, but you can’t sell it,” Assistant District Attorney Neal Johnson told a local ABC TV affiliate.
Ouachita Sheriff’s Department deputies arrested the trio of Alvena K. Johnson, Bobby Joe Tremaine and Lori Scott Tremaine.
Johnson, who owns the Fun Depot adult store in Monroe, La., was charged with two counts of promotion or wholesale promotion of obscene devices.
The Tremaines own adult bookstores in the neighboring towns of West Monroe, Chenerie and Swartz. Both husband and wife were charged with four counts of promotion or wholesale promotion of obscene devices.
The Ouachita Sheriff’s office started an undercover investigation after receiving numerous complaints from residents when the Tremaine’s Red Door adult store opened in West Monroe. Deputies went undercover into the three now-closed sex shops to purchase devices they considered to be obscene under the law.
“People that saw it opening up didn’t want them in and around their communities,” Maj. Jay Russell of the Ouachita sheriff’s department, told KATC-3 TV.
Johnson and the Tremaines face sentences of six months to three years in prison and a fine of up to $2,500.