Court: Ex-porn star can't advertise in schools

BOCA RATON, Fla. (AP) — 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 (http://bit.ly/1I8lsw3 ) 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.