An Austin Housing and Redevelopment Authority employee who was caught watching a pornographic film in a tenant’s home last November was sentenced Thursday in Mower County Court.

Ronald Joseph Heimer, 48, of Adams, was convicted of misconduct by a public employee by abuse of authority, a misdemeanor. He was sentenced to 90 days in jail — which was stayed for two years’ probation — and must pay more than $800 in fines and court fees.

The HRA fired Heimer after the board held a closed meeting in early December. Heimer watched a pornographic movie in a tenant’s bedroom and exposed himself to her as he walked out of the room zipping up his pants, according to the court complaint.

Heimer changed his plea to guilty in February as part of a plea agreement. In exchange, felony bribery, fourth-degree burglary and indecent exposure charges were dismissed. Heimer must complete cognitive skill training, write a letter of apology to the homeowner and notify his agent if he is working in homes in the future.

HRA Board Chair Marv Repinski said he made the choice to publicly announce that Heimer had been fired.

“I did not care to have him be released from his employment, but we were getting calls from the public after the newspaper articles,” Repinski said. “It’s kind of a gray zone of how to protect your residents.”

In a statement Repinski gave to board members, Repinski said the HRA continues its record of accountable performance the public and tenants can trust.

“[Letting Heimer go] was really to protect ourselves from scuttlebutt and people being fearful that our management was not appropriate, or that they would also be subject to such an invasion of privacy,” Repinski said.

— Amanda Lillie contributed to this report.