Jailed Virginia legislator votes against bill stopping prisoners from getting porn

A Virginia state lawmaker forced to spend nights in jail is opposing a bill that would stop state inmates from receiving "obscene materials," the Associated Press reported.

"If I wanted to avoid the childish comments and petty jeers or sneers, that would have been an easy vote," Del. Joe Morrissey (I) said. "But it would not have been consistent with my oath."

Morrissey, a former attorney, despite pleading guilty to a misdemeanor charge of contributing to the delinquency of a minor. He was accused of sexually assaulting a receptionist at his law office who was 17 years old at the time she worked there.

Both Morrissey and the former receptionist, who is now 18 years old and pregnant, have denied having any sexual contact. Proscutors have stated that the former Democrat, who left the party following his sentencing, is "perhaps" the father of the receptionist's child.

His agreement with prosecutors requires him to spend nights inside a Henrico County jail for six months while being allowed to serve in the state legislature during the day.

The Washington Post reported that, according to the bill's sponsor, Del. R. Steven Landes (R), the measure would serve the same function as the ban against pornography in federal prisons. Landes said officials at Augusta Correctional Center have not been able to stop printed materials from making their way to inmates.

But Morrissey, who also taught constitutional law in Ireland and Australia, argued that the bill would not hold up under legal scrutiny.

"The reason I voted 'no' is because I don't believe the bill if challenged in court would survive a constitutional challenge," he told the Post. "The bill does not describe what obscene materials is."

Despite Morrissey's objections, the bill passed in an 86-13 vote.

While Morrissey is already serving one jail term, Reuters reported last month that he faces additional felony charges for allegedly lying under oath and introducing a forged child support order during his case. The receptionist's mother has also been charged with perjury.