(NewsReady.com) – An Ohio woman has just been convicted of assaulting a fast food worker. That’s a sadly common crime, but this time, the judge has added a unique twist to the case. The perpetrator can avoid two months in jail — but only if she puts herself in her victim’s position.
When Rosemary Hayne walked into a Chipotle restaurant in Parma, Ohio, in September she was, according to Judge Timothy Gilligan, “looking for a fight.” The 39-year-old picked on a 17-year-old server, haranguing her about the state of her meal. The girl remade the order twice, even adding extra ingredients in an attempt to placate the demanding customer, but minutes after walking out with her meal, Hayne returned and started shouting again. Manager Emily Russell stepped in to protect her employee — and Hayne responded by throwing the bowl of hot food in her face.
On December 5, the Parma Municipal Court convicted Hayne of one count of assault. Judge Gilligan told her she wasn’t starring in “Real Housewives” and “This behavior is not acceptable.” Hayne apologized for assaulting Russell but, incredibly, continued trying to justify her actions. She complained that the food was “disgusting looking” — to which Gilligan snapped back, “I bet you won’t be happy with the food you are going to get in the jail.”
Initially, Gilligan sentenced Hayne to 180 days in jail, with 90 days suspended. Then he decided that, as well as punishing her for her crime, he could turn it into a learning experience. On top of the 90-day suspension, he gave her the opportunity to cut another 60 days off her sentence — but only if she agreed to work at least 20 hours a week in a fast food outlet for two months.
Hayne accepted the offer and says she plans to find herself a restaurant job. The judge hopes that will teach her “a sense of empathy.” In other words, she’ll find out how obnoxious customers like herself really are.
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