UPDATED: Charges of Abuse against Funeral Director Dismissed

A former Southeast Texas funeral director is under investigation for photographs authorities say show him treating a corpse in an offensive manner.

James Patton, the former funeral director at Earthman's Hunter Creek Chapel, was arrested in Houston and charged with abuse of a corpse.

Houston-based SCI, the company that owns Earthman Funeral Home, said Monday it immediately removed Patton from his position and the company after the funeral home was notified by authorities.

Police seized Patton's computer from his apartment in April of this year while investigating an unrelated case. That’s when they found the photos-27 in all.

According to court documents, the images were taken in November 2004, before Patton worked for Earthman.

But court documents also reveal Patton told police he had taken photos of himself and corpses as recently as September 2008, while he was employed as the funeral director at Earthman.

SCI officials said they aren't aware of any other incidents and they'll continue to cooperate with authorities.

Abuse of a corpse is a Class A Misdemeanor.

If Patton is convicted, he could face up to a $4,000 fine and up to a year in jail.

Investigators say they found photos on Patton's computer of part of a man's body touching the foot of a nude female corpse. They also found an image of a female corpse with the legs spread open. An expert determined those photos were taken in 2004.

“I can tell you that the defendant’s male sexual organ was seen in various poses with those of dead bodies,” said Donna Hawkins with the Harris County DA’s Office.

When questioned, Patton admitted that he last abused a corpse "a year ago," according to the probable cause warrant.

UPDATE: Effective May 4, 2010 Harris County Criminal Court at Law Judge Larry Standley granted a motion to dismiss the charges, citing lack of evidence.