Court: Ex-porn star can’t hang signs in schools

In this 2013 photo, Dave Mech displays his sign that was taken down by three Boca Raton schools after a parent of a student looked into Mech’s past and found that one of his companies was affiliated with adult entertainment. A federal appeals court has ruled against the former porn star turned math tutor, saying he doesn’t have a free speech right to hang the sign advertising his tutoring business at three Florida schools. Robert Duyos/South Florida Sun-Sentinel via AP

BOCA RATON, Florida, United States—A federal appeals court has ruled against a former porn star turned math tutor, saying he doesn’t have a free speech right to hang a sign advertising his tutoring business at three Florida schools.

The Sun Sentinel reports Boca Raton resident David Mech paid $1,750 to advertise his “Happy/Fun Math Tutor.” Palm Beach County School District officials removed the signs after learning Mech was a porn star who acted under the name Dave Pounder.

The 11th U.S. District Court of Appeals on Monday upheld a lower court’s decision that the signs are considered “government speech” not free speech.

The appeals court noted that “schools exercise substantial control over the messages that they convey.”

Mech sought a school board seat last year but was defeated by incumbent Karen Brill.

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