Errant saliva lands teen a six-month jail sentence

Date published: 5/27/2006

By KEITH EPPS

A Stafford County teenager is paying a stiff price for spitting into a customer's drink at a fast-food restaurant last month.

Shaleesheya G. Ford, 18, was ordered to serve six months in jail after pleading guilty to three misdemeanors Thursday in Stafford General District Court.

Ford, a high school junior, was also ordered to not work in the food industry for three years and to stay off all Taco Bell properties statewide for the same period.

Ford pleaded guilty to assault and battery, obstruction of justice and filing a false police report. She was taken to the Rappahannock Regional Jail after Thursday's hearing to begin serving her time.

According to prosecutor Andrea McCauley, Ford was working at the Taco Bell on Garrisonville Road April 14 when the 35-year-old victim came up to the drive-through window.

The victim, a lifelong Stafford County resident, said he'd been going to the store three to four times a week for a long time.

On this night, the man said he had a discussion with employees because he didn't get the iced tea he ordered.

He eventually settled for a Mountain Dew. The man said the employee who handed it to him giggled as he pulled away.

The man said he started to drink the soda right after he left the window. Just before it got into his mouth, the man said he saw a "loogie" floating in the cup.

The man called 911 and Deputy T.C. Nelson headed the ensuing investigation. Nelson determined that Ford was responsible for the substance.

Ford was initially charged with adulteration of food, a Class 5 felony. McCauley said she reduced it to assault and battery because she couldn't prove Ford intended to "kill or injure" the victim.

McCauley said Ford initially told police she had nothing to do with it, then said she spit into a friend's cup as a joke and didn't intend for it to get to the customer.

Another co-worker said she overheard Ford say, "that's a good smoker's loogie" after handing the drink to the customer.

Ford was represented by the Public Defender's office.

To reach KEITH EPPS:540/374-5404
Email: kepps@freelancestar.com

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Date published: 5/27/2006