Nude Man Caught on Tape Photographing Cemetery

A naked man in a cemetery? Not your average crime.

But Robert Hurst, 47, was caught by motion-senor cameras doing an interesting activity at a local Mississippi cemetery. In an effort to photograph orbs, or the spirit of the dead, he went to the cemetery late at night and took all his clothes off. The rationale behind the naked cemetery photographing was simple: skin is the best canvas to show spirits orbs of energy. Of course.

Although intending to only take off his shirt, the cemetery cameras (installed to catch vandalism) caught Hurst in his birthday suit and he has ultimately been charged with indecent exposure. Hurst has since described his naked photography session as "stupid."

"No I don't think I'll be going to a cemetery, even clothed," MSNBC quotes Hurst as saying about his lesson learned.

The misdemeanor charge of indecent exposure is not something to take lightly. Indecent exposure encompasses activities in which an individual recklessly or intentionally exposes his or her private parts in a manner that would offend another.

Although it is unlikely that the spirit orbs were offended by Hurst's antics, indecent exposure laws have both a safety and moral purpose. When the act is to intentionally offend another (not the case here) the charge can quickly turn from a misdemeanor indecent exposure to a much more serious charge of sexual assault if any physical contact is made.

Related Resources:

• Naked Man in Cemetery (CBS)
• Indecent Exposure (FindLaw)
• Man Convicted of Indecent Exposure At Home (FindLaw's Legally Weird)