Paul Reubens Appeals Porn Charges

[Brett Ferino]

LOS ANGELES (Zap2it.com) - Actor Paul Reubens is taking his case for dismissal of a child-porn charge against him to the next level, legally speaking.

Reubens and his lawyers are appealing a February ruling by a Los Angeles Superior Court judge that allowed misdemeanor charges of child pornography possession to stand. The actor's lawyers believe the law under which he was charged was wrongly applied, the AP reports.

Blair Berk and Benjamin L. Coleman, Reubens' defense lawyers, maintain that the 1989 state law outlawing child pornography doesn't cover Reubens' collection of vintage erotica, most of which predates the law.

The charges stem from a raid of the actor's home in November 2001, although Reubens, best known for his Pee Wee Herman character, wasn't charged until November 2002. His lawyers also claim the statute of limitations on the case expired before charges were filed.

They made those same arguments to Superior Court Judge Carol Rehm in February, but Rehm was not persuaded to drop the charge. A spokesman for the Los Angeles City Attorney's office, which is prosecuting the case, is confident the appeal will likewise be turned down.

"We believe the trial court ruling was well reasoned and consistent with law," spokesman Eric Moses says.

Reubens remains free on bond. If convicted of the charge, he would face a maximum one-year sentence and $2,500 fine.