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Fur flies in meowing case, but the kid gets off

A judge on Monday dismissed a harassment charge against a 14-year-old who was accused of repeatedly "meowing" at his neighbor, 78-year-old Alexandra Carasia.
/ Source: The Associated Press

A judge on Monday dismissed a harassment charge against a 14-year-old 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.