Photographer Arrested For Stalking Jamie Lynn Spears

JACKSON, Miss. — A celebrity photographer accused of stalking Jamie Lynn Spears and her fiance in a small Mississippi town has been arrested.

Edwin W. Merino, 30, of Los Angeles, posted bond Tuesday. He is scheduled to appear in court next week.

Authorities in Liberty, a small town in southwest Mississippi near the Louisiana border, said Merino wouldn't leave the pregnant Spears and her fiance, Casey Aldridge, alone.

Merino denied the accusations in a phone interview Wednesday with The Associated Press. He said that he was about 200 feet away from the couple using a long lens when he was arrested at a gas station.

The younger Spears and Aldridge have been the subject of intense attention since she announced her pregnancy in December. She said then she was 12 weeks along, which would make the 17-year-old due any time.

Merino said he had little luck taking pictures of the couple and was preparing to leave the area.

"I've seen the young man Casey in pictures," Merino said. "I haven't worked on them myself. The first time I got a good look at him was in court."

Spears' family representatives did not immediately return messages Wednesday.

Merino has worked as a celebrity photographer for five years. He was one of the paparazzi who snared pictures of Jamie Lynn Spears' older sister, Britney, without underwear.

Merino said he was the only photographer following Spears during most of his four days in the Liberty area.

"I just think since I was the only one there, it was just easier for them to single me out," Merino said.

Merino's arrest was first reported by the McComb Enterprise-Journal.

Merino said he didn't spend any significant time in jail. A deputy drove him to three automated teller machines and he got the $1,143 he needed to be released.

In the end, Merino said the trip was a waste.

"The one picture I got was kind of by luck," he said. "I got lucky when I saw them at Wal-Mart when I was buying deodorant."

Comments

[CMLA]

01:16 PM on 06/05/2008

FINALY !

[andvoodoo2]

01:47 PM on 06/06/2008

The charges will be dismissed and the cops know it. They are just trying to keep that sort of thing out of their little town. Small MS towns play by their own rules.

[wedgie]

07:55 AM on 06/05/2008

AND BY THE WAY: has anyone noticed the photo cut line above? The photo was taken at the Us Weekly Hot Hollywood party.

Going to the Us Weekly Hot Hollywood party, is about as desperate as it gets. Read the event title twice. Go on. I'll wait.

Us Weekly Hot Hollywood party.

Us Weekly is a tabloid. She went TO a tabloid party. And she then gets upset when tabloid photographers stalk her.

**

[wedgie]

07:52 AM on 06/05/2008

What? Did they bust him for trying to make us look at more pictures of her?

I mean. My God, what did this girl ever do to warrant celebrity status? What did her SISTER ever do? But I mean, come on. The sister of a sucky celebrity gets to be a sucky celebrity?

**

[gonavy]

01:53 AM on 06/05/2008

She is not in L.A., so there is no excuse for this.

[HatingTheGame]

01:27 PM on 06/06/2008

Well, it is if LA means Louisiana

LOL

[andvoodoo2]

01:44 PM on 06/06/2008

The incident and arrest took place in Mississippi.

[mamacat]

12:33 AM on 06/05/2008

Good. I hope he gets a hefty fine. These leeches hurt everyone by their tactics. They make it look like terrible behaviour is the norm, rather than the exception.

[andvoodoo2]

12:10 AM on 06/05/2008

LOL! Merino, you aren't in L.A. anymore...