Man Who Urinated In Backyard Cleared Of Indecent Exposure Charge

HASTINGS, Mich. (AP) - A man who teaches physical education at a Hastings elementary school was acquitted of an indecent exposure charge after he testified that he urinated in his backyard but didn't expose himself to a neighbor.

Stephen Merring, 55, was cleared Monday after a trial that lasted a few hours, The Grand Rapids Press reported. The Southeastern Elementary physical education teacher has been on paid leave since his arrest in April.

Merring testified that he didn't think anyone could see him when he stepped out of his basement to urinate.

"Peeing in your backyard is not a crime. This was not an exposure case," attorney Fil Iorio said. "He's got a fairly large backyard. He peed outside, unaware his neighbor was outside."

Iorio said his client is "extremely relieved" to be cleared and wants to return to work. The misdemeanor charge could have cost Merring his teaching certificate.

"It is extremely disruptive to your life," Iorio said. "Just being charged is very disruptive."

Merring has been at the school nearly 20 years and has a "stellar record," Iorio said.