Both sides agree to hold off on grand jury in Cashman 'stalker' case

Yankees GM Brian Cashman's alleged shake-down stalker learned some good news in Manhattan Criminal Court today: Prosecutors have agreed to take more time investigating the case before convening a grand jury on possible felony grand larceny charges.

Louise Meanwell, 35 -- who also uses the let name Neathway -- looked grim but clear-minded after making the trip from jail to court, and turned up at the defense table wearing a snug-tailored charcoal pants suit and repeatedly flipping her long blonde hair from her face.

She'd last come to court Feb. 3, and that time treated news photographers to a slide-show stack of emotions and poses, rolling her eyes, tearing up and laughing in turns.

Steven Hirsch

A Manhattan woman with a criminal history for harassment and trespassing was arrested today for allegedly stalking Yankees general manager Brian Cashman. Louise Meanwell, who also goes by the last name Neathway, was awaiting arraignment on aggravated harassment charges in Manhattan criminal court late Thursday. She is also accused of stealing $6,000 from a man sources have identified as Cashman, prosecutors said. "The defendant extorted $6,000 from the victim and attempted to extort more than $15,000," said prosecutor Eric Iverson, who is asking for bail at $500,000.

Meanwell, who has a long history of harassment and trespassing allegations from New York, North Carolina and New Jersey, is being held in lieu of $200,000 cash bail on accusations that she extorted $6,000 from the married Cashman and tried to threaten him into giving her $15,000 more.

Meanwell, who is not a US citizen and holds a British passport, told the Yankees honcho that she needed the money for an unspecified medical procedure and that if he didn't fork it over, she'd tell the press and Cashman's wife about their affair.

Her lawyer, Alan Abramson, told reporters afterward that the delay in grand jury action is good for both sides.

"Both the defense and prosecutors are going to evaluate the facts of the case. The additional time will be helpful to both the prosecutors and the defense, to understand the facts of the case," he said.

Her family is trying to raise her bail, said her other lawyer, Stephen McCarthy, Jr.

Meanwell remains on probation for a trespassing case in Jersey City, and has been issued an order of protection barring her from contact with her ex-husband, their daughter and his family, who live near Albany.