WATCH: Celebrity chef Mario Batali found not guilty by judge of indecent assault, battery.
At least 20 former employees accused Batali and coworkers of a pattern of harassment at three of his restaurants.has been found not guilty of indecent assault and battery for a 2017 incident in Boston.
Natalie Tene, 32, said Batali forcibly kissed her and grabbed her breasts, buttocks and groin after meeting him in a Boston bar while having a drink with a friend in March 2017.Judge James Stanton ultimately decided after two days of testimony and two hours of deliberation that the defendant had a financial motive for making the accusations. Stanton rendered the verdict directly since Batali waived his right to a jury trial.
On Monday, at the start of the trial, Tene said she was speaking out"to be able to take control of what happened," while a defense attorney for Batali called her a liar who is twisting the truth"for money and for fun."Celebrity chef Mario Batali listens at Boston Municipal Court on the second day of his trial, in Boston, May 10, 2022.
Tene claimed Batali was"grabbing me in ways I had never been touched before, squeezing between my legs ... pulling me closer to him."The alleged assault took place after the accuser asked the chef for a selfie. He smelled of alcohol and appeared intoxicated, she alleged. Tene has also filed a civil complaint for unspecified damages based on the same allegations that will be tried separately from this case.ABC News' Mark Guarino contributed to this report.
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