Paparazzo May Pay Price For Jamie Lynn Pics
Edwin Merino, a paparazzo, was arrested earlier this week for allegedly stalking Jamie Lynn Spears and Casey Aldridge near their Louisiana home. After posting bond, Merino denied the accusations in a phone interview yesterday with the AP. In his defense, Merino claims that he was about 200 feet away from the couple using a long lens when he was arrested at a gas station.
Not so fast!
According to Louisiana’s state stalking statute, Merino may be guilty of stalking if he repeatedly followed Jamie Lynn and such behavior would cause a “reasonable person to feel alarmed.”
This is a much lower standard than California’s anti-stalking laws, which require that an alleged stalker make a “credible threat with the intent to place [Jamie] in reasonable fear for [her] safety.”
Bottom line: Because Jamie Lynn is under 18 years old, Merino may be facing up to one year in prison and up to $2,000 in fines!
