A judge in Ohio acknowledges handing down a “unique” sentence to a woman seen on camera hurling a burrito bowl at a Chipotle restaurant worker, even though the woman herself seemed to still believe her actions were justified.
Parma Municipal Court Judge Timothy P. Gilligan sentenced Rosemary Hayne, 39, to 180 days in jail at a hearing last week. He suspended 90 of those days, and presented Hayne with a unique opportunity: she could shave an additional 60 days from the sentence if she agreed to work in a fast-food restaurant for 20 hours a week for two months.
“Do you want to walk in her shoes for two months and learn how people should treat people, or do you want to jail time?” Gilligan asked Hayne at the Nov. 28 hearing.
“I’d like to walk in her shoes,” Hayne replied, after a pause.
Parma (Ohio) Municipal Court Judge Timothy Gilligan, left, sentences Rosemary Hayne, right, standing with her attorney in court on Nov. 28, 2023 (via YouTube screengrab/NewsNation). Inset: Chipotle worker Emily Russell moments after Hayne threw her order in her face (via Law&Crime Network).
Hayne was captured on cellphone video verbally berating Emily Russell over the state of the meal before launching the meal itself at the victim in September. Although it is difficult to make out exactly what was said during the exchange, it’s clear that Hayne is very unhappy with what she ordered.
After she violently throws the food-filled paper bowl at a stunned Russell, Hayne starts to storm out of the store. Another woman appears to confront her, demanding Hayne explain why she did what she did.
Gilligan told Law&Crime’s Angenette Levy that Hayne had been at the store before and was prepared for a confrontation.
“Those cameras weren’t rolling because Taylor Swift just walked into the joint,” he said. “Those cameras were on because she made such a scene and wanted to be such a bully. And this was the second occasion. She walked in there and she made it absolutely clear to everybody in the place that she was going to be a bully and abuse and put out a show. That’s why those cameras were rolling.”
He expressed similar sentiments to Hayne directly at her hearing.
“You went in there looking for a fight,” Gilligan said at Hayne’s sentencing, according to local Fox affiliate WJW.
“I did not,” Hayne replied. “I did not. If I showed you how my food looked and how my food looked a week later from that same restaurant, you would — it was disgusting-looking.”
“I’ll bet you’re not going to be happy with the food you’re about to get in jail,” the judge shot back.
Gilligan acknowledged to Levy that the sentence is “unique.”
“I thought, why not take this opportunity to have her learn how you how people should be treated, how you should react, and the appropriate response to that type of situation,” the judge said. “And that can be best learned by placing her in the shoes of the other victim.”
WJW reported that Hayne did tell Russell — who ended up quitting because she was so traumatized — that she was “very sorry” about the incident.
“She’s going to get what she deserves,” Russell told WJW about the sentence. “She didn’t get a slap on her wrist, so she’s going to learn how to work in fast food and hopefully it will be good.”
“I think it was a good opportunity to teach someone a lesson,” the judge told Levy. “Jail is a lesson, but it’s limited.”
Gilligan also said that the sentence would save local taxpayers some money.
“I thought, why should the city taxpayers pay for her and feed her for 90 days in jail if I can teach her a sense of empathy?” the judge told WJW.
Hayne was also put on two years of probation. According to court records, Hayne was sentenced the day she pleaded guilty.
More from Law&Crime: Man sent to prison for throwing pot of hot grease at Popeyes employee
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