Celebrity chef Mario Batali, accused of indecent assault and battery, waived his right to a jury trial Monday in the sexual misconduct case he faces in Boston. Batali, 61, is accused of forcibly kissing and groping a woman after taking a selfie with her at a Boylston Street restaurant in 2017, and the jury selection process was due to begin Monday. However, Batali opted to try the bench. The trial has been postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic; However, during his 2019 trial, Batali pleaded not guilty to the charges, and if convicted, Batali could face up to two and a half years in prison and be required to register as a sex offender. Being in court throughout the proceedings, which are expected to last about two days once the jury selection is completed. Several other women have previously come forward alleging sexual misconduct by Batali. Batali stepped down from the day-to-day operations of his restaurant empire and cooking show “The Chew” in December 2017 after four women accused him of inappropriate contact. Batali offered an apology, acknowledging that the allegations “matched” the ways in which he acted. “I’ve made many mistakes and I’m very sorry for disappointing my friends, family, fans and my team,” he said in an email newsletter at the time. “My act was wrong, no excuses. I take full responsibility.” Batali opened a branch of the popular Italian food market Eataly in Boston in the downtown Prudential Center in 2016 as well as Babbo Pizzeria e Enoteca in the city’s seaport area in 2015. A stake in Eataly, which still has dozens of locations worldwide including Boston, and Babbo Restaurant in the city has since closed.The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Celebrity chef Mario Batali, accused of indecent assault and battery, waived his right to a jury trial Monday in the sexual misconduct case he faces in Boston.
Batali, 61, is accused of forcibly kissing and groping a woman after taking a selfie with her at a Boylston Street restaurant in 2017.
Jury selection was scheduled to begin on Monday; However, Batali opted to try the bench.
The trial has been postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic; However, during his 2019 trial, Batali pleaded not guilty to the charges.
If convicted, Batali could face up to two and a half years in prison and be required to register as a sex offender.
The Suffolk County District Attorney’s office said Batali is expected to be in court throughout the proceedings, which are expected to last about two days once jury selection is complete.
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Several other women have previously come forward alleging sexual misconduct by Batali.
Batali stepped down from the day-to-day operations of his restaurant empire and cooking show “The Chew” in December 2017 after four women accused him of inappropriate contact.
Batali offered an apology, acknowledging that the allegations “matched” the ways in which he acted.
“I’ve made many mistakes and I’m very sorry for disappointing my friends, family, fans and my team,” he said in an email newsletter at the time. “My behavior was wrong and there are no excuses. I take full responsibility.”
Batali opened a branch of the popular Italian food market Eataly in Boston in the downtown Prudential Center in 2016 as well as Babbo Pizzeria e Enoteca in the city’s seaport area in 2015.
Batali has since been purchased from his stake in Eataly, which still has dozens of locations around the world including Boston, and Babbo’s restaurant in the city has since closed.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
