 In 1969, the Michigan Court of Appeals overturned Grimshaw's conviction by a lower court on obscenity charges.Grimshaw had been convicted of flying a "fifteen cent kite that had a dirty word lettered on it", and was sentenced to 15 days in jail and a $150.00 fine, but the court threw out his conviction and the Detroit ordinance, on the basis that it "unconstitutionally inhibits free speech".His political mentor John Sinclair was sent to prison on marijuana charges in 1969, and Grimshaw worked hard for his freedom.