Celebrity chef Mario Batali was found not guilty Tuesday at a bench trial on charges of indecent assault and battery related to the alleged groping of a star-struck patron at a Boston restaurant in 2017.
Judge James Stanton noted Batali's conduct was"not befitting of a public person of his stature" that night five years ago but said his accuser has"significant credibility issues" that supported the defendant's"contention that her motive was financial gain." Batali, wearing a sport coat, smiled after the verdict and thanked his attorneys. His accuser hurried out of the courtroom as soon as the judge declared the defendant not guilty.
Batali was a few seats away when she tried to covertly take a photo of him on her phone, she testified.Tene said her friend told her Batali caught her sneaking the picture and wanted her to come over, probably to delete the photo. Tene walked over and apologized to Batali, she said, promising to delete the photo if he wanted. "He said, 'No, it was fine, no worries, let's actually take some selfies instead,'" Tene testified.
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