THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Tuesday, August 16, 1994 TAG: 9408160345
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B1 EDITION: NORTH CAROLINA
SOURCE: BY MARGARET TALEV, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: JAMES CITY LENGTH: Medium: 82 lines
They gathered outside Obsessions II Girlie Den in this town just east of New Bern, about 60 parents, children, teachers and church officials determined to close the place and ``save'' its employees.
The protesters carried signs: ``Girlie Dens Hurt the Family.'' ``Jesus Forgives and Heals.'' ``Would you look for your future wife here?''
Taped across one baby carriage Sunday afternoon, another poster proclaimed: ``Den of the Peeping Tom.''
Obsessions II is closed Sundays, but banners outside advertise its services - an ``all-girl'' staff of models, dancers and ``adult'' conversationalists.
Some of the protesters were less intent than others on ``saving'' the employees. But all wanted the establishment out of their neighborhood.
John Pierce, pastor at St. John Missionary Baptist Church in New Bern, said he hoped to rid the community of Obsessions II before teens started frequenting it.
``I think most of us in our life will do things we're not proud of,'' he said. ``And I think as we grow, we want to prevent our children from trying to make the same mistakes.''
Rachel Daniels, 11, said she had come with her parents ``to stand against pornography.'' Asked what pornography meant, she replied, ``I don't exactly know.''
Her father, Bryan Daniels, said, ``We've done the reading. We know what actually goes on in there.''
Pastor Walter Leake, protest organizer and co-chairman of the Craven County Christian Coalition, said: ``There's more going on in there than the average person would think. It's my opinion you can buy anything there you have money to.''
One female employee of the club has been arrested and charged with prostitution since the club opened last November, said Steve Wolak, assistant supervisor for the state Alcohol Law Enforcement Division's New Bern district. There is an ongoing investigation into the activities at Obsessions II Wolak said.
The establishment sells no alcohol. It contains a waiting room and two private rooms, each about 8 feet by 10 feet, according to manager Pierre Larivee.
``We put the customers in a room with a female and we offer them dancing, modeling and adult conversation,'' said ``Angel,'' a 26-year-old employee.
According to Angel, who has worked at Obsessions II for seven months, a visit costs $45 to $150, depending on the length of a visit and how the visitor wants the employee dressed.
``We're not a massage parlor. We don't massage. There is no sex here,'' Angel said.
Trying to argue in court that Obsessions II is obscene would be ``almost impossible,'' said Craven County District Attorney David McFayden. ``There's a lot of sexually oriented conduct that is not illegal,'' McFayden said.
Craven County Sheriff Pete Bland agreed. ``We always actively try to pursue ousting this type of establishment from the county,'' he said. However, ``we've been to court four or five times for those types of establishments'' and ``we've not been successful'' in finding them in violation of obscenity laws.
The protesters Sunday said they would work within the law to make clients and employees as uncomfortable as possible.
Jon Leake, the pastor's son, said local officials are encouraging protesters to stand on public property with video cameras and film customers as they enter and leave.
He said they also plan to record the license-plate numbers of automobiles parked outside Obsessions II. Then, he said, protesters would try to distribute the information around the community.
Angel, however, said she has nothing to hide.
``I'm married. My husband knows what I do. If there was sex here, I wouldn't be here. That's not something I'd want to do. I have two small children. I wouldn't want them around this place. They don't know what I do.''
People who don't like it ``don't have to come to this place,'' she said. ``It's their choice, just like we have the choice whether or not to go to church.''
``We're here because this is what Jesus commands of us,'' said Lillie Hill, a middle school counselor and New Bern resident. ``We are not going to let the devil take over New Bern and Craven County.'' by CNB