************************************************ Boy Charged For Meowing At Neighbor Lady
Family Gave Cat Away After Neighbor's Complaints
August 23, 2006...JEANNETTE, Pa.
How many meows does it take to make a misdemeanor?
Jeannette District Judge Joseph R. DeMarchis will make that determination in 90 days.
He heard testimony Tuesday in the case of a city teenager who allegedly said "meow" repeatedly to a neighbor.
Michael Loughner, 14, of 108 Harrison Ave., was charged with harassment by Jeannette police after a July 23 incident.
Alexandria Carasia, 78, of 106 Harrison Ave., said that was the day she finally called police.
"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.
"Every time he sees me, he meows," Carasia testified.
Her son, Ken, said he walked her home that day because she was worried about going past Loughner again.
Loughner also recalled the July 23 exchange, saying he went to hold his dog so it wouldn't leave the yard. He said he's only made the noise to Carasia twice, once being that day.
"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."
"As she walked in front of the house, nothing was said," added Sally Loughner, Michael's mother. "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.' "
The two neighbors allegedly have a history of disputes.
Sally Loughner said the family cat was finally sent to live with her parents "to keep peace in the neighborhood."
Defense attorney David Martin Jr. sought to have the case dropped before calling any witnesses.
"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."
Martin contends Carasia should have just ignored Loughner.
Police Sgt. Donald Johnston felt the charge was warranted.
"He engaged in a conduct repeatedly that serves no legitimate purpose," Johnston said. "I don't feel the victim should have to go through her golden ages being harassed by the defendant." ***************************************** *****************************************
Judge Dismisses Misdemeanor Meow Case
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JEANNETTE, Pennsylvania (AP) -- You could say it was the purr-fect ending a 14-year-old boy wanted. A judge on Monday dismissed a harassment charge against the teenager, who was accused of repeatedly "meowing" at his neighbor, 78-year-old Alexandra Carasia.
The judge reprimanded the boy, telling him he was immature and should have used better judgment, but decided no criminal charges were warranted.
The boy's family and Carasia do not get along. The boy's mother said the family got rid of their cat after Carasia complained to police it used her flower garden as a litter box.
The boy said he only meowed at the woman twice; Carasia testified that he did so every time he saw her.
The judge heard the case Aug. 22, but decided to wait 90 days before ruling to see how the boy and Carasia got along.
Carasia was satisfied with the reprimand.
"I'm just glad he at least reprimanded him," she said. "He used to be a good boy. It has done emotional harm to me. ... I was the one who was tortured."
The boy's mother said the case should have been dismissed in August. ********************************
Meow Meow Henrietta Pussycat Meow.... Long Live Fluffy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!