Lawyer For Accused Cashman Stalker Says 'We're Challenging The Charges'
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- The woman accused of stalking Yankees' General Manager Brian Cashman was back in court Tuesday and still unable to make bail. The deadline for grand jury action was extended by both sides.
Louise Neathway, 36, is charged with extorting money from Cashman, but her lawyers indicate it was just an affair, reports CBS 2's John Slattery.
"Obviously, this is an allegation, and it's a situation where you had two people involved in some sort of relationship," attorney Alan Abramson said.
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Neathway, a British national who lives in Manhattan, is charged with extorting $6,000 from Cashman and attempting to extort more than $15,000, as well as harassing him with phone and text messages.
"We're pleading not guilty. We are challenging the charges," Abramson said.
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A friend of Neathway's family said Neathway wanted the money for a medical procedure, to freeze her eggs so she could have a baby at a later date; not for extortion.
Neathway has a history of arrests for stalking and harassment. There are orders of protection against her regarding not just Cashman, and a previous boyfriend, but another family as well. Her lawyers said she's doing well, considering she's in jail on Riker's Island.
"She's got the loving support of her family. She's doing the best she can," attorney Stephen McCarthy said, adding when asked if his client is nervous, "I would say so, sure."
While Neathway claims to have done nothing illegal, Cashman and the Manhattan District Attorney's Office are calling what she did a criminal shakedown.
Neathway is being held on $300,000 bond or $200,000 cash bail, which her family is trying to raise.
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