Charges Dropped Against Nude Met Model

Model was posing for photographer Zach Hyman

All charges have been dropped against the woman who tore off her dress in the middle of a crowded Metropolitan Museum of Art for a photo shoot in August.

Neill was arrested in August while posing  for photographer Zach Hyman who has gained recent notoriety for his photos of nude models posing at New York landmarks, snapping shots of naked New Yorkers (all volunteers) from Times Square to Chinatown for his portrait series.

Hyman gives himself just 30 seconds to take 10 shots of nude models with his Hasselblad 500 C/M film camera and conducts his shoots in all natural light. The pictures typically can sell for anywhere from $2,000 to $9,500.

The 30 seconds wasn't enough time as police busted up the shoot -- an event, which was captured exclusively by a camera rolling for NBCNewYork.

Neill, 26, was charged with public lewdness, exposure of a person and endangering the welfare of a child.

Before the incident occured, Hyman said his photo shoots require more precautions than most. Wary of arrest, he keeps bail money handy, takes along a lookout for police and keeps his lawyer on speed dial. Up until the day of Neill's arrest, he's never had to use the bail money.

It was on his mind during his last shoot in Times Square.

"I was wholly prepared to be arrested, but somehow managed to walk away with the image and no cuffs," Hyman said of that shoot.   

Hyman -- who says he's inspired by Helmut Newton, David LaChapelle, and Guy Bourdin -- wasn't so lucky that day.  Sometime you have to suffer for your heart.
   
Get more information on Hyman's Web site.     

Jennifer Millman contributed to this article.

"Rather than risk a decision by the judge that would establish the legality of her conduct, it appears that the district attorney has chosen to make an application to the court to dismiss all the charges," said Thomas J. Hillgardner, the attorney for nude model, Kathleen Neill.

A spokesperson from Manhattan's District Attorney's Office confirmed that charges were dropped, indicating that the case could not be proven beyond a reasonable doubt.

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