Randall Book Corp. v. Maryland

Eight years ago, Baltimore County detectives executed a search warrant at the Rye Book Store in Reisterstown, Maryland. They seized 733 items that the detectives believed fell within the search warrants description of "all books, magazines, photographs, films and posters that are displayed for advertising purposes which depict sadomasochistic abuse, sexual conduct, and sexual excitement." Appellant, as owner and operator of the book store, was thereafter charged with a total of 252 offenses, based upon 126 different magazines which had been seized. At trial, the State abandoned half the charges, leaving one charge of a violation of Maryland Code (1957, 1982 Repl.Vol.) Art. 27,