An ex-chef in Mount Olive NJ was indicted on charges of tampering with food for allegedly spitting in a customer’s dish.
The 32-year-old defendant was working as a chef at Kennedy’s Pub in Mount Olive NJ when the incident occurred.
According to prosecutors, the defendant, who hails from Independence Township, spat on a customer’s meal in October 2014. A co-worker notified authorities that the defendant had spit on the bread accompanying a pasta dish after a 51-year-old customer sent the dish back to the kitchen.
The restaurant fired the defendant a short time after learning of the allegations.
The defendant was charged with tampering with food. The defendant did not face charges under a catch-all provision for disorderly conduct.
The defendant made his first appearance in Morris County Superior Court in Morristown NJ in December 2014. At that time, prosecutors offered the defendant a plea deal: the defendant would have to serve 3 years in NJ State Prison in exchange for a guilty plea.
Prosecutors insisted on prison time as a condition of the plea offer because the defendant has a prior criminal record, which includes a conviction for robbery. The defendant’s criminal history means that there would be a presumption of incarceration for a conviction on this offense.
The defense attorney in the case rejected the plea offer. As a result, the charges of tampering with food were sent to a grand jury in Morris County.
Now the Morris County grand jury has indicted the defendant on the food tampering charges.
The offense is classified as a third degree felony. As a result, the defendant could potentially be sentenced to up to 5 years in New Jersey State Prison if he is convicted.
For more information about this case, view the DailyRecord.com article entitled “Ex-Mount Olive Chef Is Indicted for Spitting on Food.”