Spring man gets prison time for upskirting women at grocery store

HOUSTON (KTRK) -- A Spring man will serve nine months in state prison for taking pictures from under women's skirts.

Merle Heard pleaded guilty on Tuesday to improper photography/visual recording.

Authorities say last August, someone noticed heard Heard holding a cell phone under the skirt of a woman who was shopping at a grocery store in northwest Harris County. That witness later picked him out of a photo lineup.

A month later, a loss prevention officer caught Heard at it again. That officer shot video of what Heard is alleged of doing and turned it over to investigators.

Heard also faced a charge of indecent exposure but it was dropped.