Man in tutu accused of exposing himself

HOUSTON -- Investigators have arrested a Huntsville, Texas man who's accused of exposing himself while wearing a tutu earlier this week in north Harris County.

Richard James Staples, 51, is charged with indecent exposure following an incident at the Regency Beauty Institute in the 19700 block of the North Freeway on Wednesday. Witnesses told investigators a man, who they later identified as Staples, walked up to the business in a tutu and exposed himself.

One of the women inside was able to shoot video of the man, which was turned over to deputy constables. A license plate of a red truck the suspect was driving was visible, which led them to Staples.

Through a photo spread, deputies say a witness was able to identify Staples as the suspect.

Staples was arrested this morning. Bond in the case has been set at $1,000.

The indecent exposure charge is a misdemeanor, but investigators believe they can tie Staples to other crimes in the area of I-45 and Cypresswood and ask that people come forward if something similar has happened to them. Investigators say three charges of this nature would upgrade it to a felony.

"Normally when we see cases such as this, they progress and they get into much more aggressive behavior and they go into a downward spiral," Assistant Chief Mark Herman with the Harris County Precinct 4 Constables Office.

Investigators say Staples works with a pest control business so he may have been in and out of several homes and businesses. They say he gave a full confession.