Opinion ID: 1985270
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 10

Heading: Prurient Interest and Patent Offensiveness

Text: We now turn to the first two prongs of the three-part Miller v. California test and consider (1) whether the average person, applying contemporary community standards, would find exhibits 1 through 3 appealing to the prurient interest, and (2) whether exhibits 1 through 3 depict, in a patently offensive way, sexual conduct specifically defined by the applicable state law. The district court, sitting as the trier of fact, found exhibits 1 through 3 both appealing to the prurient interest and depicting sexual conduct in a patently offensive way. Based on the standard of review articulated in State v. Harrold, supra , we determine that the record amply supports the district court's findings regarding the first two prongs of the Miller v. California test. As described by the district court, exhibit 1 is a sketch or drawing of eight or nine men who are either naked or have exposed genitalia. Four of the men display erect penises of exaggerated dimensions, and one appears to have just completed anal intercourse with another man. Exhibit 2 is a sketch or drawing of two naked men, both of whom have erect penises of exaggerated dimensions. A seated man is performing fellatio on a standing man, and semen appears to be dripping from the mouth of the seated man. Exhibit 3 is a photograph or painting of a bearded man who appears to be undergoing anal penetration by another man. The district court concluded the pictures clearly appeal to the prurient interest and the representations of the figures in Exhibits 1, 2 and 3 appear to have been designed to shock the viewer and, indeed, to be offensive. Based on our review of the record and affording the appropriate deference to the trier of fact, we cannot conclude the district court was clearly wrong. See, Anderson/Couvillon v. Nebraska Dept. of Soc. Servs., 253 Neb. 813, 572 N.W.2d 362 (1998); Hilliard v. Robertson, 253 Neb. 232, 570 N.W.2d 180 (1997).