Oct. 6, 2009 (United Press International) -- Houston police said they obtained photos of a funeral director touching the feet of a female corpse with his penis.

Investigators said the photos, which date back five years, depict James Howard Patton, 38, who was removed from his position with Earthman Funeral Home when the allegations surfaced, touching the cadaver with his penis, the Houston Chronicle reported Tuesday.

It was not clear whether there were multiple corpses and incidents involved.

Police said they obtained the photos, which were taken in 2004, on Patton's computer while executing an April 2 search warrant issued as part of an investigation into allegations of Internet harassment lodged against Patton by an ex-girlfriend.

A spokeswoman for Service Corporation International (NYSE:SCI) , Earthman's parent company, said the photos were taken before Patton worked for the company and he was removed from his position when bosses were made aware of the allegations.

Patton was charged with abuse of a corpse, a class A misdemeanor, and released on $1,500 bond.