Theatre owner arrested, film confiscated

The owner and manager of the Vernal Theatre was arrested and the film being shown Tuesday night of last week was confiscated in a raid by Vernal Police Department for violation of the state code.  The theatre owner was charged for not demanding identification and allowing minors – under 18 years of age – to see R and X rated movies.

The police move was made after an officer and his wife witnessed the movie Monday and observed under-age persons watching the movie.

Police Chief Jonathan Jones arrested Brent D. Shiner for violation of statue 76-10-1206 which states that a person is guilty of “dealing with harmful material” when knowing that a person is a minor, or having failed to exercise reasonable care and assessing the proper age of a minor, he knowingly distributes or offers to exhibit any harmful material to a minor.

After checking the identification of those present, it was determined that 26 persons attending the Tuesday show were under the age of 18.

Wednesday Shiner pleaded guilty before Justice of the Peace Lloyd E. Eaton to a reduced charge under a city code which forbids showing or displaying any lewd or pornographic material. He was fined $200 and sentenced to 120 days in jail.  Part of the fine and jail sentence were suspended and Shiner was placed on a six months probation.

The terms of the probation included the stipulation that the defendant not let persons below 18 years of age to see X and R rated films and that youths working in the theatre not be allowed to see films of this type.