Man Took 'Upskirt' Photos In Grocery Store: Mountain Brook Police

MOUNTAIN BROOK, AL — A Birmingham man has been arrested by Mountain Brook police and charged with taking obscene photos of women at two grocery stores. The "upskirt" photos were taken of four women at the Piggly Wiggly store on Church Street in Mountain Brook and the Publix on Montclair Road in Birmingham.

A Mountain Brook PD report said James Phillip Huggins Jr., 32, was arrested and charged with four counts of first degree voyeurism. Mountain Brook police responded to the Piggly Wiggly store in Crestline Village Sept. 22 when a woman told police she saw a man taking pictures up her skirt. Police said they identified Huggins and searched his phone and electronic devices.

Mountain Brook police Lt. Chuck Clark said evidence on Huggins' phone revealed this activity had been going on for a while, but Alabama's voyeurism law has only been in effect since Sept. 1.

Gov. Kay Ivey signed the anti-voyeurism bill earlier this year, which outlawed “upskirting” — taking a photo up a woman’s skirt or blouse without her consent.

Huggins was arrested Oct. 30 and released from jail the same day on bonds totaling $325,000. A court date has not yet been set.