Man's loud laugh lands him in court
ROCKVILLE CENTRE, N.Y. (AP) - A New York man says he didn't know it was a crime to laugh.
Robert Schiavelli of Rockville Centre, on Long Island, was slapped with two summonses for "disturbing the peace."
Police responded to his home on Feb. 12 and Feb. 13 after receiving complaints from his next-door neighbor that his loud laughs could be heard across the driveway.
The 42-year-old was charged with acting "in such a manner as to annoy, disturb, interfere with, obstruct, or be offensive to others."
At his arraignment Tuesday, a judge declined to dismiss the charges.
Schiavelli tells the New York Post his neighbor often taunts him due to his disability. He deals with it by laughing him off.
Schiavelli suffers from seizures and neurological impairments.
The neighbor didn't respond to requests for comment.
Robert Schiavelli of Rockville Centre, on Long Island, was slapped with two summonses for "disturbing the peace."
Police responded to his home on Feb. 12 and Feb. 13 after receiving complaints from his next-door neighbor that his loud laughs could be heard across the driveway.
The 42-year-old was charged with acting "in such a manner as to annoy, disturb, interfere with, obstruct, or be offensive to others."
At his arraignment Tuesday, a judge declined to dismiss the charges.
Schiavelli tells the New York Post his neighbor often taunts him due to his disability. He deals with it by laughing him off.
Schiavelli suffers from seizures and neurological impairments.
The neighbor didn't respond to requests for comment.
Should be an interesting case. He'll use his disability as part of a defense of his behavior, yet ask to be treated equally inspite of it. On the other hand....he should be  able to laugh away until 10 pm, same as a lawn mower, which likely isn't any louder. An intolerant neighbor I'm thinking. They are both part of the problem.... I say make them BOTH move..problem solved
This isn't about laughing, its about someone who cares nothing about others who don't want to hear his loud laughter.