Man blames drug for indecent exposure

ROCHESTER, Minn., Jan. 31 (UPI) -- A Rochester, Minn., man pleaded guilty to exposing himself to two teenagers but said a prescription drug for jumpy legs was partly to blame for his actions.

Michael Lynn Shirk-Heath, who has two prior convictions for exposing himself to juveniles, told Olmsted District Judge Robert Birnbaum that he was taking a prescription drug for restless legs syndrome that has increased sexual desire among its side effects. He exposed himself to a pair of teenage girls four days after his release from jail, the Rochester Post-Bulletin reported Thursday.

"I know that is one of the reasons for this," Shirk-Heath said after pleading guilty to two gross misdemeanor counts of indecent exposure.

Shirk-Heath was arrested Oct. 30 after two girls said he drove next to their car while masturbating and blowing them kisses. They said he followed them home and drove past the residence twice.

He was convicted of misdemeanor indecent exposure to a juvenile in 2003, and was convicted again in 2006 of gross misdemeanor indecent exposure in another case involving a juvenile.