Sweet Entertainment Group 02
- From SEG website
LEGAL UPDATE: December 10, 2002
Mr. Steve Sweet, President of Sweet Entertainment Group (SEG), and 3 other principals of the Corporation were charged on December 6, 2002, with 6 counts of obscenity based on 3 specific videos from the SadoSlaves.com Library.
SEG has not been charged with any criminal offense. Mr. Sweet has not been detained in this matter.
The Crown has alleged that Lexa Lords, Naughty Nikki and Mistress Twilight sadoslaves.com video episodes are obscene pursuant to s. 163 of the Criminal Code of Canada. Three counts allege that the accused "did make, distribute and circulate an obscene video" and three counts allege "did have in their possession for the purpose of publication, distribution and circulation, an obscene video."
It appears that the Crown is concentrating its efforts on the BDSM subculture by alleging that the material in question combines explicit sex with violence or torture or that the material is degrading and dehumanizing. The Crown has not to date provided particulars of what segment of the videos it regards as being obscene.
The charges stem from Vancouver Police Department raids on the premises of Sweet Entertainment Group that occurred on March 13, 2002 and second raid that occurred November 7, 2002.
A number of pre-charge applications and motions to Court have already been successfully brought by SEG resulting in Orders from both the Supreme Court of British Columbia and the Provincial Court of British Columbia for the return of SEG property.
The most recent decision from the Supreme Court of Canada regarding obscenity is a 1992 decision Regina v. Butler. Much has changed in the past 10 years, with the explosion of the Internet, the commercial availability of BDSM type content and the shift of community standards this past decade. Mr. Sweet has indicated that SEG will vigorously defend the charges. The case is far from trial and many matters remain to be dealt with. Of course, should the matter reach trial constitutional arguments regarding Freedom of Speech under the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms will be at the forefront of what will likely prove to be a precedent setting case.
The maximum penalty under Canadian law for this offense is 2 years. A conviction generally results in a fine.
SEG will continue to provide cutting edge content to its many customers and carry on its operations as it rises to meet this legal challenge.
P. G. Kent-Snowsell, B.A. , LL.B.
Head of Legal Affairs
Sweet Entertainment Group
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