Hair In Food Leads To Jail
Former fast food employee going to prison for 6 monthsBy ANNIE DIMMICK
Article Photos
MOUNDSVILLE - Thomas Bender will spend six months in prison for tampering with a sandwich that was served to a law enforcement officer.
During a pre-trial conference hearing in Marshall County Magistrate Court on Wednesday, the former Wendy's employee who placed his own pubic hair on the sandwich of a Marshall County sheriff's deputy pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor charge of adulteration of food. After hearing sentencing arguments from Bender's attorney, John Anderson, as well as from county Prosecutor Jeff Cramer and Assistant Prosecutor Rhonda Wade, Magistrate William Anderson sentenced Bender to one year in prison with six months suspended. Following his release, Bender must serve two years probation and pay court costs.
"It's probably a good thing that the officer didn't consume ... that he noticed it before," Anderson said to Bender, noting the sentence would have been more stringent if the deputy had eaten the sandwich.
Bender, 32, of Moundsville and Josh Monroe of Shadyside were charged with conspiracy and adulteration of food shortly after the March 15 incident in which Bender placed the hair on the sandwich, knowing the victim would be a deputy. Deputies claim Monroe encouraged him to do so. Both were working the restaurant's drive-through at the time and have been fired, along with the on-duty shift manager who was working at the time.
In accordance with a motion by the state, the conspiracy charge against Bender was dismissed with prejudice.
Monroe's case is pending.
Since the incident, the company that owns the Moundsville restaurant, Primary Aim LLC, has imposed the requirement of background checks on all employees. In addition, the company has promised to add security cameras in food preparation areas.
An internal investigation determined the incident was isolated, according to Primary Aim President Ben Thompson. Thompson has said the company is confident there has never been any other food tampering incident at the Moundsville Wendy's.
Facebook
MySpace
Digg
Stumble
Mixx
Fark
del.icio.us
LiveSpaces
|
BurningUp07
|
|
|---|---|
|
06-06-09 8:47 AM
|
gotta agree with acoustic about the mcd's in elm grove. that place is just downright annoying anymore, it's like a big frat boy party between the people that hang out there and the workers/management that all know each other. I usually go to Wendy's lately I don't see the point in boycotting any of them. All the people that work in these places are underpaid and ticked off at the world so sadly this stuff is going to happen sometimes. You have to be leary of it everytime you eat out no matter where it is. Even cooks at pricier places are underpaid.
|
|
pedobearCP
|
|
|
06-04-09 12:12 AM
|
i worked at wendys for a year and used to do this allllllllll the time, especially for the police, and anyone who was rude, annoying, or just plain offensive. when you work for substandard wages in horrid conditions, what can you expect? ill bet many of you have eatin something youd rather not know about, because this happens at EVERY fast food restaraunt, because YOU break the golden rule: DO NOT MESS WITH THE PEOPLE WHO HANDLE YOUR FOOD. and dont worry my ******* friends, it was not your precious moundsville wendys i worked at, so you didnt eat my pubic hair, but im willin to bet youve eaten someone elses. and you deserved it. p.s. for you self-righteous types wanting to report me, this was many years ago and the statute of limitations is a beautiful thing. LULZ
|
|
pedobearCP
|
|
|
06-04-09 12:03 AM
|
i worked at wendys for a year and did this alllllllllll the time, and not just to cops either, anyone snotty, rude, or just plain offensive in general got thier food severly tampered with(dont woory, i dont live anywhere near you hicks) and this isnt just me n this guy, this happens at EVERY fast food place in this country. when you work for low wages and have to deal with unintelligent rubes such as yourselves fellow posters, this is the only way to brighten up your day. 2:1 one of you has eaten something at a fast food place you would rather not know about. p.s. for those of you thinking about reporting my little confession, hate to tell you it was many years ago and the statute of limitations is a beautiful thing baby! LULZ
|
|
mikescarcm2
|
|
|
05-29-09 8:55 PM
|
I say put a weapon in his hand and ship him of to Iraq or Afghanistan, let him get a taste of what that police officer does from time to time and see how he likes never knowing who to trust or who may take his life in the blink of an eye. He should have gotten "LIFE" that police officer does a great duty to protect and serve for the pay that he recieves.
|
|
InsideGuy
|
|
|
05-29-09 4:50 PM
|
I feel i have to respond to this article, this guy got six months for serving a cop a pube sandwich and kerns got 90 days for killing a young girl in car crash while driving intoxicated, there is a grave injustice here for at least 3 people (cop included)
|
|
wvhoopie
|
|
|
05-28-09 10:16 PM
|
Ladydiamond hits it on the head.
|
|
Wondering
|
|
|
05-28-09 6:09 PM
|
What an idiot this guy is! Background checks probably won't help fast food restaurants, though. They have enough trouble getting decent workers, let alone keeping them.
|
|
AlexanderShulgin
|
|
|
05-28-09 3:09 PM
|
I wonder if the cop would rather have bearded clam, he obviously does not enjoy fur burgers.
|
|
Graysongs
|
|
|
05-28-09 2:34 PM
|
I just hope someone will get on here and confirm that he is not a member of the band!
|
|
Submanager
|
|
|
05-28-09 12:44 PM
|
As a memeber of the managment staff at both Subway resturaunts in Moundsville, I can assure everyone, both of the accused were, are and never will be employees in our facility. I think individuals should check their facts before making statements.
|
|
Submanager
|
|
|
05-28-09 12:44 PM
|
As a memeber of the managment staff at both Subway resturaunts in Moundsville, I can assure everyone, both of the accused were, are and never will be employees in our facility. I think individuals should check their facts before making statements.
|
|
acousticportal
|
|
|
05-28-09 12:22 PM
|
That sounds nice popeye.
|
|
popeye
|
|
|
05-28-09 9:25 AM
|
Stay away from fast food period. Grab a beer and grill in your backyard.
|
|
acousticportal
|
|
|
05-28-09 9:14 AM
|
justmytake...I don't agree with boycotting that Wendy's...it's probably the most sanitary place to eat at this time considering the increased awareness and attempt to overcome this hit on the reputation. That being said...yea, for sure...fast food management isn't real great, and the employees are often less than consciencious folk. For example...how about that McD's in Elm Grove...that place is ridiculous. It's over run with teenagers grabassing and management who seem to be their best friends. Some of the older employees are kind though. In other establishments you pull up to see three or four employees having a smoke and chatting out by the dumpster, then scurry in to serve you. Disgusting!
|
|
JohnJJ
|
|
|
05-28-09 9:10 AM
|
frankobich, the cops risk thier lives and deal with the worst society has to offer, with little or no respect from people like you. A free lunch now and then shows some thanks in an often thankless job. If it is "extortion" as you say, then it should be reported to another agency, other than the offending one, but i bet your claims have no basis and you have a beef with the police for some offense you have committed and got caught because some officer was doing his job. I got a burger for you.
|
|
AlexanderShulgin
|
|
|
05-28-09 9:03 AM
|
Perhaps, this guy is a member of PETA and has made a rather elaborate and sophisticated statement about animal cruelty.
|
|
AlexanderShulgin
|
|
|
05-28-09 8:52 AM
|
Great, we get to pay for a person who clearly has diminished mental capacity to live for six months. And since he has presumably lost his job, we get to pay him when he is out until he finds another crap job that a Mexican would love to have- plus they tend to be less hairy. How was the hair removed from his body, yanking or scissors?
|
|
rover1958
|
|
|
05-28-09 8:18 AM
|
"Hi there Mr. Bender, I'm Bubba the prison guard. Here's your morning meal..... heh, heh, heh. By the way, I'll be serving all your meals for the next six months... heh, heh, heh." GULP !
|
|
88WVU93
|
|
|
05-28-09 8:17 AM
|
I will never eat there again. I'd rather go to Subway than eat their unhealthy slop anyways.
|
|
popeye
|
|
|
05-28-09 8:16 AM
|
Would he still have received six months jailtime if the sandwich was served to John Q Public as opposed to Deputy Donut?
|
|
Rusty1
|
|
|
05-28-09 8:13 AM
|
This guy got what he deserved.
|
|
Ladydiamond
|
|
|
05-28-09 8:02 AM
|
Most of us don't know and don't want to know how our food is handled and by whom in these places. SOME of the people that work in fast foods aren't the cleanest people in the world. They come from less than clean households where their uniforms are kept with pets around them etc. SOME of them are people who you would never consider eating in their homes under any circumstances. Yet we go to these establishments and have them prepare and serve our food. Then we are shocked and horrified at something like one of the employees putting hair in the food. I have witnessed them handling money and scratching their heads, picking at acne on their faces and then handling the food. That’s when I cancel my order and leave the establishment. I personally almost never eat out and certainly not at fast food places, not only because of the hygiene but because the fast food is typically unhealthy, fattening and almost inedible.
|
|
LoveWV2
|
|
|
05-28-09 7:14 AM
|
I don't think boycotting the store is the best thing for anyone.
|
|
warbucks
|
|
|
05-28-09 7:11 AM
|
It seems to me that justice has been done here. I hope the least of this persons worries will be what is on his food for the next six months
|
|
warbucks
|
|
|
05-28-09 7:09 AM
|
That's a perfect answer, put an entire store full of working people out of a job. Do you really think that your answer will insure safe food?
|