Boy charged for meowing at his neighbor
Fri Aug 25, 2006 3:02 am
http://www.wsbtv.com/news/9725203/detail.html
JEANNETTE, Pa. -- Meow. A Pennsylvania judge is being asked to decide whether that word is a harmless taunt or grounds for misdemeanor harassment.
Police have charged a 14-year-old boy with that crime. Michael Loughner is accused of meowing whenever he sees his 78-year-old neighbor, Alexandria Carasia.
The boy's family got rid of their cat after Carasia complained that it was using her flower garden as a litter box. Now, she said, the boy makes meowing sounds every time he sees her.
He said he's only meowed at her twice.
"I've had to put up with this for three years," Carasia said. "As I walk by, I see Michael and his mother. He got on the porch and hid behind the bamboo screen and starts meowing. If I don't make this stop now, they're going to keep doing this to me. I shouldn't have to worry about walking out of the house and being harassed by this young kid."
Loughner said that on July 23 he went out to hold his dog so it wouldn't leave the yard as Carasia walked by.
"She was walking through and she kept looking at us," he testified. "I grabbed the dog so it wouldn't leave the yard. When I put my head down, I meowed."
He said that was one of the two times he's ever meowed at the woman, the Pittsburgh Tribune Review reported.
"As she walked in front of the house, nothing was said," the boy's mother, Sally Loughner, told the court. "He stepped off the porch to make sure the dog didn't get out. As he reached down and got the dog, he said, 'Meow.' ... She said, 'Do you want me to call the cops again?' I said, 'Go ahead, he hasn't done anything wrong.'"
There is a history of disputes between the neighbors, according to the paper.
Sally Loughner told the court that she ended up sending her cat to live with family members so that she could "keep peace in the neighborhood."
Defense attorney David Martin Jr. asked that the case be dropped.
"This should never have been filed," Martin said. "This is not something that police should be wasting their time with or wasting the court's time."
The judge heard from both parties Tuesday. He decided to wait 90 days before ruling, saying he'll decide what to do after seeing how the boy and his neighbor get along in the meantime.
JEANNETTE, Pa. -- Meow. A Pennsylvania judge is being asked to decide whether that word is a harmless taunt or grounds for misdemeanor harassment.
Police have charged a 14-year-old boy with that crime. Michael Loughner is accused of meowing whenever he sees his 78-year-old neighbor, Alexandria Carasia.
The boy's family got rid of their cat after Carasia complained that it was using her flower garden as a litter box. Now, she said, the boy makes meowing sounds every time he sees her.
He said he's only meowed at her twice.
"I've had to put up with this for three years," Carasia said. "As I walk by, I see Michael and his mother. He got on the porch and hid behind the bamboo screen and starts meowing. If I don't make this stop now, they're going to keep doing this to me. I shouldn't have to worry about walking out of the house and being harassed by this young kid."
Loughner said that on July 23 he went out to hold his dog so it wouldn't leave the yard as Carasia walked by.
"She was walking through and she kept looking at us," he testified. "I grabbed the dog so it wouldn't leave the yard. When I put my head down, I meowed."
He said that was one of the two times he's ever meowed at the woman, the Pittsburgh Tribune Review reported.
"As she walked in front of the house, nothing was said," the boy's mother, Sally Loughner, told the court. "He stepped off the porch to make sure the dog didn't get out. As he reached down and got the dog, he said, 'Meow.' ... She said, 'Do you want me to call the cops again?' I said, 'Go ahead, he hasn't done anything wrong.'"
There is a history of disputes between the neighbors, according to the paper.
Sally Loughner told the court that she ended up sending her cat to live with family members so that she could "keep peace in the neighborhood."
Defense attorney David Martin Jr. asked that the case be dropped.
"This should never have been filed," Martin said. "This is not something that police should be wasting their time with or wasting the court's time."
The judge heard from both parties Tuesday. He decided to wait 90 days before ruling, saying he'll decide what to do after seeing how the boy and his neighbor get along in the meantime.
Fri Aug 25, 2006 3:25 am
I don't even know why she let that get to her in the first place. I don't even know why the court picked up the case in the first place.
Do they just have nothing to do in Pennsylvania or what?
Do they just have nothing to do in Pennsylvania or what?
Fri Aug 25, 2006 3:49 am
Only in America 
Fri Aug 25, 2006 1:25 pm
"This should never have been filed," Martin said. "This is not something that police should be wasting their time with or wasting the court's time."
Amen.
Ski, LOVE the Homestar av. And yes, apparently there's nothing better to do in Pennsylvania than whine about making animal noises.... crazy people in New England... I tell you what....
Fri Aug 25, 2006 2:21 pm
Doozer wrote:"This should never have been filed," Martin said. "This is not something that police should be wasting their time with or wasting the court's time."
Amen.
Ski, LOVE the Homestar av. And yes, apparently there's nothing better to do in Pennsylvania than whine about making animal noises.... crazy people in New England... I tell you what....
Actually, we're one of the mid-atlantic states, thank you
Thankfully I live on the other side of the state from this wackadoo. She sounds certifiable. I guess people do have nothing to do in small towns.
Fri Aug 25, 2006 2:55 pm
Meh.
Abuse is abuse.
Abuse is abuse.
Fri Aug 25, 2006 3:24 pm
I disagree. It depends how you dress it up. For example... you could "Abuse" your child... but what you're really doing is disciplining your child. jajaja
Fri Aug 25, 2006 3:27 pm
Oh no, not meowing! That must be so hard on her! *rolls eyes* I wish my biggest problem in life was a neighbour meowing at me.
Take it from someone who knows: That woman will never win the court case.
Take it from someone who knows: That woman will never win the court case.
Fri Aug 25, 2006 3:38 pm
Kyra wrote:Oh no, not meowing! That must be so hard on her! *rolls eyes* I wish my biggest problem in life was a neighbour meowing at me.
Take it from someone who knows: That woman will never win the court case.
Okay, everytime You post I'm going to put... Oh... Giggity giggity goo.
Watch how quickly that becomes annoying.
Fri Aug 25, 2006 3:44 pm
Setekh wrote:Kyra wrote:Oh no, not meowing! That must be so hard on her! *rolls eyes* I wish my biggest problem in life was a neighbour meowing at me.
Take it from someone who knows: That woman will never win the court case.
Okay, everytime You post I'm going to put... Oh... Giggity giggity goo.
Watch how quickly that becomes annoying.
That's fine, I don't particularly care. o.O Why would it become annoying at all? Perhaps you should think things through a bit more.
Fri Aug 25, 2006 3:52 pm
I should do that to my neighbor in the building over from mine. He's hot. I see him waiting for the bus as I go to my car.
Doozer as she drives by the guy waiting: "Giggity giggity!"
Hot guy: "..... did I just get giggity-ed at? Should I call the police on her?"
Doozer as she drives by the guy waiting: "Giggity giggity!"
Hot guy: "..... did I just get giggity-ed at? Should I call the police on her?"
Fri Aug 25, 2006 3:53 pm
I think Kyra will just think you're a tad strange. And petty.
It hardly constitutes abuse. If being an obnoxious 14 year old constituted abuse, young offenders institutes would be overflowing.
It hardly constitutes abuse. If being an obnoxious 14 year old constituted abuse, young offenders institutes would be overflowing.
Fri Aug 25, 2006 4:06 pm
Ok, the woman apparently never mentioned this to the mom, but dealt with it for three years, then decides to call the cops? Please. Something's up with the woman, whether she's nutty or bored.
Fri Aug 25, 2006 4:07 pm
The woman could be a crazy old cat lady, and that might really be why the kid meowed at her. 
Fri Aug 25, 2006 4:16 pm
Igg wrote:I think Kyra will just think you're a tad strange. And petty.
It hardly constitutes abuse. If being an obnoxious 14 year old constituted abuse, young offenders institutes would be overflowing.
That is soooo true!