In Ohio, a woman convicted of assault for throwing a burrito bowl at a Chipotle worker has received an unusual sentence: two months of working in the fast-food industry.
During a busy dinner rush in September, Emily Russell, the store manager, remade an order for Rosemary Hayne, who, dissatisfied with the final product, angrily yelled at Russell before hurling the burrito bowl at her face.
The incident was caught on video and widely shared online. Russell, 26, expressed surprise, stating, “I just blinked and there was sour cream dripping from my hair.”
After the incident at Chipotle, someone called the police, leading to a legal consequence. Judge Timothy Gilligan of Parma Municipal Court sentenced Rosemary Hayne to 180 days in jail, with 90 days suspended, according to court records.
However, the judge provided an alternative: 60 days of the sentence would be suspended if she worked 20 hours a week for eight and a half weeks (or 60 days) at a fast-food restaurant. This opportunity was presented by Joseph O’Malley, Ms. Hayne’s lawyer.
Rosemary Hayne, 39, has agreed to the judge’s offer and will work at a fast-food restaurant to fulfill part of her sentence before reporting to jail in March, according to her lawyer, Joseph O’Malley.
O’Malley believes the sentencing is fair, emphasizing that Ms. Hayne, who had no prior criminal record, had one unfortunate incident. While she has attended interviews, it remains uncertain if she has secured a fast-food job yet.
Ms. Russell was taken aback by the unexpected sentencing outcome.
Expressing her thoughts, she stated, “I thought she was going to get a slap on the wrist, but she didn’t. She is going to get to walk in my shoes.”
Ms. Russell still vividly recalls the incident, describing how she went to the back of the restaurant to wipe off the thrown food. Her face was left red and irritated from the impact of the hot food.
Despite the ordeal, she called her mother, shed tears, completed the remaining four hours of her shift, and then sought medical attention at a hospital, where she was released soon after.
Ms. Russell decided to part ways with Chipotle following the incident.
Reflecting on her experience, she expressed feeling unsupported by the chain, especially after working the remainder of her shift that night and not being granted the next day off. Chipotle did not respond to inquiries as of late Wednesday night.
Currently, Ms. Russell has found employment at Raising Cane’s, a fast-food chain originating from Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Despite the challenging incident, she maintains a positive view of the food service industry.
Sharing her sentiment, she said, “I’ve been in the food industry for nine years, and I love it. I just love customers.”
