Mooning Deemed 'Disgusting' But Not Illegal

A judge in the US has ruled that mooning, while distasteful, is not illegal, at least in the state of Maryland. For our friends that aren't quite sure what 'mooning' is, it's exposing one's buttocks to others as a prank or sign of disrespect.

The case that prompted the court ruling started with an argument between a man, Raymond Hugh McNealy, and his neighbour, Nanette Vonfeldt. Vonfeldt pressed charges against McNealy after he yelled and threatened to "blow up the building" as she and her 8-year-old daughter walked out of their apartment.

"Then, for whatever reason, in full view of my daughter, he mooned us", Vonfeldt said. The two had a long-standing feud in their homeowners association, which held a heated meeting the night before.

McNealy's attorneys argued that indecent exposure in Maryland constitutes the willful public display of a person's "private parts" -- which they said do not include a person's buttocks.

And they won, McNealy was acquitted. The judge ruled that "If exposure of half of the buttock constituted indecent exposure, any woman wearing a thong at the beach at Ocean City would be guilty".

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