Jamie Lynn Spears running errands on 4/1/08, thanks to Splash
It might be more permissible in L.A., but in Louisiana, tailing a celeb to photograph their every move is better known as stalking. A member of the paparazzi, who has been following Jamie Lynn Spears and her boyfriend Casey Aldridge all over Louisiana and Mississippi, has been arrested for stalking. See, Casey – there’s no need to pull a gun on them, just call the cops!
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.
It’s been clear since Jamie Lynn announced her pregnancy that she prefers to be left alone. It’s about time someone nailed one of these guys. They’ve been documenting her every move for months, and it’s very intrusive. Following Jamie Lynn down Robertson Blvd. is one thing, but she’s in Louisiana. Buying deodorant at Wal-Mart. Do we really need to see a picture of that?
Yes but then where would the photos for websites like these come from? Let it rip!
Can’t she afford some prescription sunglasses?
Why is this chick so facinating to people? There are plenty of knocked up teenagers who shop at walmart in this country
Seems like she’s been pregnant forever and still has a few months to go, while Angelina just announced her pregnancy a few weeks ago and she’s due any day! WEIRD!!!
Yeah! Throw him in the clink! Throw ’em ALL in the clink!
It was never confirmed that Casey flashed a gun at anyone, I’m just sayin’…
And you bet that dude got arrested! Its one thing to hound people in LA or in NY but hell to the no in small town America!
that’s great! paparazzi should not be in louisiana. there is no way that they could claim that jamie-lynn is seeking attention when she is living a normal life in the south. good for them!
Tammy,,apparently she can afford TWO pairs of glasses. If one pair can make you psuedo smart, think what wearing 2 pairs at a time can do for you,,,even in louisiana.
“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.”
So as long as I’m REALLY far away, it’s fine to snap unsolicited pictures of strangers? Good to know, that.
so why the paps should be strictly in LA, Hollywood,NYC or whatever? It just doesn´t make any sense…btw the most valuable shots in the bizz are the ones taken far far away from the public eyes!
I just think we are not in the position to criticize the paps if the main focus of blogs like this (or weekly mags)is to make a story out of the pics taken by the, guess who? the paps!
What is totally wrong in this whole thing is that she is not even a celebrity! And she shouldn´t be getting that kind of attention…from NONE of us!
*golfer’s clap*
Good on the police department ! I don’t need to know if she went shopping where, when or why .
Larissa – The reason it’s only in LA, and NYC is because different states have different laws. When they started tossing around those ‘Britney Laws’ it was pretty funny for the rest of the country, because we already have laws making it illegal to stalk someone – which is all a paparazzi is. When you break it down, they’re just professional stalkers.
Scott- I know theres different state laws and all…
I don´t think its wrong the fact that he was arrested, but thats just part of his job as a professional stalker, btw he is not the first and won´t be the last!lol
but who r us to criticize the paps for what they do?
thats all I am saying!
Larissa, as a celeb blogger and gossip monger, I have to say that we don’t get our news from the paparazzi. The paparazzi are not reporters in most cases. In fact, most of the paps today have never even taken a journalism class- they’re just guys with cameras trying to make a buck. I think our stories here at CB would be fine if we used pics taken at red carpet events or photo shoots. I also think there’s a difference between pap shots taken at a place that’s a notorious location for celebs- say, the Ivy or Kitson– and shots taken while a celeb is on vacation or a location where it’s clear they want to be left alone. Those shots are exploitative and in general, unnecessary. If Jamie Lynn were parading her belly bump up and down Robertson Blvd or stopping in every Starbucks in LA (like her sister) that would be one thing. But she is thousands of miles away from LA.
There are ways we could still get our gossip without the paps- believe me!
i have said the same thing! i love the rags, i read th blogs and i think it is completely ok to be all over the celebs as the shop and party and everything in la or other hot spots BUT when they are clearly FAR away trying to live a normal life, too much is too much!
Msat – maybe I didn´t express myself correclty, but ya as much as I do that I wasn´t saying that the paps make the stories, even tho sometimes that´s pretty much how it goes! e.g.: drunken x-tina aguilera leaving a club and that sort of thing! neways, if the fact of leaving far from the spotlights or the buzz of a starbucks, make ya less of a celebrity and more of a common person, living a normal life,then why not leave Brangelina alone? instead of just bombing all blogs and mags with stories of her pregnancy(and not just that)!?? I am totally sure that if ANY pap would get shots of her right now, everyone would post/print it and comment it!!!
the paparazzi´s might not give a story (which doesn´t mean they are not mostly made up)but they can sure illustrate one!
Brangelina is much more high profile than Jamie,but if ya´re gonna apply that rule, why are we gonna make anyone an exception?
ofc they should leave the girl alone! I never said otherwise…
“I just think since I was the only one there, it was just easier for them to single me out.”
Dumbest… statement… EVER!
🙄
Why dont more people get arrested for stalking?
WTF is up with these spears girls wearing their hair like we did when we were kids!?
The ‘whale spout’ is only reserved for girls UNDER the biological age of 5 – I don’t care if you act like a child, you shouldn’t be reverting to little girl hair styles too!
@Missy June 5th, 2008 at 1:56 pm
THANK YOU! lmao
how come all you lot are dissing her she’s amzing i meen come on if you luff zoe 101 then you have too luff her
yh she got pregnant but she;s handing the baby too her mum so now she can carry on wiff her CAREER
MAYBE YOUR THE ONES THT ARE KNOCKED UP