PALATINE (STMW) — A northwest suburban man is suing his neighbor for libel and slander after she falsely called the police on him and said he was masturbating at an open window.
Kevin Converse filed a lawsuit in Cook County Circuit Court Friday against his neighbor Neri Barcenas for libel and slander. Barcenas falsely reported to the police that she saw Converse masturbating while standing at an open window and staring at her on two separate occasions in February and July 2008, according to the suit.
After the second incident, Barcenas identified Converse in a photo lineup and a warrant was issued for his arrest. Converse turned himself in and had to hire a lawyer for a criminal misdemeanor trial that eventually found him not guilty, the suit said.
During the trail, Converse was notified by the Palatine Police Department Sex Offender Unit to register as a sex offender via neon green signs that were posted on his door, causing him public humiliation and damaging his reputation, the suit said.
The suit claims defamation and seeks at least $50,000 plus legal fees.
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