BOSTON (AP)-Mario Battalion was acquitted Tuesday of a gruesome assault and crime following a speedy trial in which a famous chef surrendered his right to a jury to decide his fate.
Fight it Not guilty In 2019 for obscene assault and violence, he was sentenced to 2.5 years in prison and, if convicted, would be required to register as a sex offender.
Defendant Batal told the court he was “shocked, shocked and angry” when a 61-year-old former Food Network former aggressively kissed and hugged him while they were taking a selfie at a restaurant in Boston in 2017.
A 32-year-old employee of a software company said he was confused and helpless to stop the struggle when he touched it without her permission. He also A lawsuit was filed It was heard in Boston’s Suffolk County Superior Court, where Batal’s attorney argued that he would give him a financial incentive to lie.
The battle is between several high -ranking people who have been publicly criticized during the #MeToo movement against sexual violence and harassment in recent years.
After four women accused him of inappropriate engagement in 2017, he quit his day-to-day business at his restaurant empire and quit ABC’s discontinued culinary show “The Chew.”
The Battalion also apologized and admitted that the allegations were “appropriate” to his actions.
“I made a lot of mistakes,” he said in an email newsletter at the time. “My behavior is wrong and I have no reason. I take full responsibility. “
The trial began on Monday when Batal relinquished – in a surprise move – his right to a jury trial and chose a judge to decide his fate.
The Battalion’s attorney argued that the Boston attack never happened and the defendant was not a credible witness, based on a woman’s recent confession that she tried to evade jury service by claiming that he was a clairvoyant. He was also accused of violating a judge’s order not to discuss the case with others.
In delivering the verdict, Boston Municipal Court Judge James Stanton agreed with the allegation that the defendant had credibility issues. Both the defendant and Batal left the courtroom without speaking to reporters.
Batal once starred in shows like “Much Mario” and “Iron Chef America”. But the high career of a man with an orange tail and crochet has been marred by allegations of sexual misconduct.
Last year, Batal, his business partner and their New York restaurant company agreed to pay $ 600,000 to arrange a four-year New York Attorney General’s investigation into Batal’s allegations and other employees are sexually assaulted.
In Boston, he opened a branch of the famous Italian food market Eataly and Babbo Pizzeria and Enoteca in the city’s port area. But he has already bought his stake in Eataly and Boston’s Santa restaurant has closed.
Source: Huffpost
