MANHATTAN CRIMINAL COURT — A Tribeca woman charged with stalking and trying to extort $15,000 from Yankees general manager Brian Cashman has decided to change attorneys.
Louise Neathway, who also goes by the surname Meanwell, has hired Rory Bellantoni, a former judge in Westchester County. It is unclear why she decided to drop the pair of Manhattan lawyers who handled her arraignment and matters that occurred early in the case.
Her first lawyers, Stephen McCarthy and Alan Abramson, must appear at her next court date on March 7 until the switch is formalized, Manhattan Criminal Court Judge Melissa Jackson said Tuesday when Neathway appeared briefly.
Meanwhile, Neathway, 36, has not posted her $300,000 bail and remains at Rikers Island.
Neathway allegedly hit Cashman with a barrage of texts, emails and messages demanding he pay $15,000 for a medical procedure, the nature of which has not been revealed by the DA.
She previously harassed and stalked boyfriends and an ex-husband and has arrests for similar crimes in several states.
Her new attorney requested an adjournment until March 7. She has not yet been indicted.
