State v. Morgan

553 So. 2d 1012, 1989 WL 138301
Louisiana Court of Appeal·Decided November 16, 1989·No. KA-9261, KA-9265·Published·Cited by 4 cases

Opinion

553 So.2d 1012 (1989)

STATE of Louisiana
v.
Queenie MORGAN, Kenneth J. Ledet and Russland Enterprises, Inc.
STATE of Louisiana
v.
Bryan T. LEDET.

Nos. KA-9261, KA-9265.

Court of Appeal of Louisiana, Fourth Circuit.

November 16, 1989.

*1014 Harry F. Connick, Dist. Atty., Sandra Pettle, Asst. Dist. Atty., New Orleans, for plaintiff/appellee.

Joseph Meyer, Jr., New Orleans, for defendants/appellants.

Before GARRISON, PLOTKIN and BECKER, JJ.

BECKER, Judge.

Bryan Ledet, on April the 2nd of 1987, was charged by bill of information with two counts of obscenity, one involving the film "Stray Cats", the other involving the film "Pumping Irene". He was arraigned on May the 7th of 1987, and pled not guilty. On June 1st of 1987, Queenie Morgan, Kenneth Ledet, and Russland Enterprises were each charged by bill of information with two counts of obscenity involving the same films. On the day of trial, by agreement, both cases were consolidated and a six member jury found all the defendants guilty as charged.

The defendants were sentenced as follows; Morgan, two years at hard labor on each count, suspended, two years inactive probation, court costs and a $1,000.00 fine; Kenneth Ledet, two years at hard labor on each count, suspended, two years inactive probation and a $2,250.00 fine; Bryan Ledet, two years at hard labor on each count, suspended, two years inactive probation, and a $2,250.00 fine, and Russland Enterprises, a $5,000.00 fine. From these convictions and sentences the defendants appeal.

APPEALS PATENT

An examination of the record reveals two errors patent. The minute entry of the date of trial states that all defendants were represented. However, it does not state that the defendants were actually present. Minute entries must affirmatively show that a defendant was present at all stages of the proceedings listed in C.C.P. Article 831, State v. Pope, 214 La. 1026, 39 So.2d 719 (1949); State v. Hancock, 502 So.2d 1098 (La.App. 4th Cir.1987). The identification of Queenie Morgan by detective Jimmy Stewart at trial establishes her presence. The presence of the corporation is established through its counsel. C.Cr.P. Art. 836.

As was done in State v. Veller, 532 So.2d 846 (La.App. 4th Cir. 1988), this court ordered the trial court to issue a per curiam, which it has done, affirmatively showing that Bryan and Kenneth Ledet were present with counsel at all stages of the trial, thus correcting this error patent.

Morgan and the Ledet brothers were each given fines and imprisonment on each count, thereby establishing that they were sentenced on both counts. However, the corporation was simply fined $5,000.00 with no particularization as to each conviction. Therefore, the case must be remanded for resentencing of Russland Enterprises Inc. so that a penalty can be imposed on both convictions. State v. Perkins, 480 So.2d 451 (La.App. 4th Cir.1985).

FACTS

All parties stipulated at the beginning of trial, that should Detectives Jimmy Stewart and Edward Messina testify, they would testify that they went to 5400 Crowder Blvd. where Stewart purchased a rental agreement for "Stray Cats" and that after viewing the film a search warrant was obtained to seize the videotape.

Detective Warren Riley testified the police department had received a complaint concerning ABC Video Store, 5400 Crowder Blvd. in Orleans Parish. Riley checked with the City Finance Department and learned that Russland Enterprises, 26th Street, Metairie, was the owner. Riley went to the offices of Russland Enterprises and learned that it was run by Bryan Ledet and that the vice president of the corporation was his brother, Kenneth Ledet. The State then introduced an invoice signed by Bryan Ledet showing that "Pumping Irene" and "Stray Cats" were the property of the corporation.

Detective Timothy Bayard testified he executed a search warrant at 5400 Crowder Blvd. on March 13, 1987, and seized the video cassettes "Stray Cats" and "Pumping Irene". Bayard explained that the boxes of the tapes are kept on a shelf where the *1015 potential viewer makes his selection. The customer then obtains the tapes, which are kept locked behind the counter, from the cashier. He identified the Articles of Incorporation, showing the president of the corporation as Bryan Ledet and the vice president as Kenneth Ledet.

Detective James Stewart testified he went to the ABC Video, 5400 Crowder, to rent a video in connection with the investigation. He chose one rated "X", and took it to the cashier Queenie Morgan. The tape was kept in a sealed area, accessible only to employees. He and his partner viewed "Stray Cats," documented it, and obtained search and arrest warrants.

The jury then viewed the films.

The parties then stipulated that if Detective Riley testified he would say that he attempted to rent "Deep Throat", and that Morgan told him "No, don't get that one; why don't you get the video `Pumping Irene', that's XXX."

At the end of the trial, the parties stipulated that Morgan would testify that she was the cashier at 5400 Crowder, that she is now the record keeper, and that she could identify the video rental clubs membership list.

ASSIGNMENT OF ERROR NO. 1

The defense argues the State did not prove scienter as to the defendants.

A determination of guilty of obscenity requires proof of scienter or knowledge. Smith v. California, 361 U.S. 147, 80 S.Ct. 215, 4 L.Ed.2d 205 (1959); State v. Burch, 365 So.2d 1263 (La. 1978). The State is therefore required to show that the accused had knowledge of or had reason to know of the character and nature of the contents of the materials for exhibition for which he is responsible. State v. Wrestle, Inc., 360 So.2d 831 (La.1978), rev'd in part, Burch v. Louisiana, 441 U.S. 130, 99 S.Ct. 1623, 60 L.Ed.2d 96 (1979), Hamling v. United States, 418 U.S. 87, 94 S.Ct. 2887, 41 L.Ed.2d 590 (1974); Ginsberg v. New York, 390 U.S. 629, 88 S.Ct. 1274, 20 L.Ed.2d 195 (1968). The State need not, however, show that the defendant knew the legal status of the materials to be obscene. Burch, supra.

In Wrestle, a corporate defendant and its president were convicted of obscenity after being charged with the exhibition and display of two obscene motion pictures, exhibited in booths at the premises operated by the corporate defendant. The films were located in small booths in a rear room of the store, in which were situated coin-operated projectors. By insertion of a quarter, the booths permitted viewing a portion of the film onto a small viewing screen. The president argued there was no evidence that he had knowledge of the contents, character or nature of the obscene films exhibited by the corporate codefendant. The evidence showed: The defendant Burch was the president of the corporation which operated the store. It was a local corporation, and Burch lived in the locality. In the back of the store was a small room with twelve coin-operated viewing machines. Burch was seen in the store by a police officer on at least one of his visits to it. A defense witness saw Burch on the premises some six months before, building the booths for the peep shows in which the obscene films were exhibited. The films

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