Meanwhile, down in Rome, GA proceedings have begun in the Gordon Lee trial. As the Court TV article referenced above recalls, this case began when Rome retailer Gordon Lee mistakenly gave a copy of of Alternative Comics #2 as a trick or treat gift. The comic had been produced for Free Comic Book Day but included a sequence where art legend Pablo Picasso meets his fellow Cubist George Braque while nude. Unfortunately, this did not sit well with one mother, who felt her 6 and 9 year old sons had been exposed to an indeent image.

The boys’ mother refused to accept an apology from Lee and went to police. Days later, the comic book store owner was arrested and charged with seven counts, including two felonies for distributing material depicting nudity or sexual conduct and misdemeanor charges of exhibition of harmful materials to a minor.The case has taken a couple of wild turns through a series of motions, appeals and the dismissal of the felony charges against Lee. Prosecutors contacted Lee’s defense 18 hours before his original trial was supposed to begin, saying they had the wrong victim. Immediately after, prosecutors refiled an indictment with the correct victim, but dismissed the felony charges against Lee.

He now faces two misdemeanor charges of distributing harmful materials to a minor and could be sentenced to up to a year in prison and a $1,000 fine for each count if convicted. His trial is set to begin Monday.

The CBLDF has been defending For for over 2 years at a cost of 80,000. The trial could be over as soon as the end of this week depending on where it falls in the docket. We’ll keep you updated with any ongoing information.