Movie star chef Mario Batali has been acquitted of prices alleging that he groped a restaurant patron.

Batali, 61, was among the many first distinguished public figures to be accused of sexual misconduct initially of the #MeToo Motion in late 2017. On Tuesday, he was discovered not responsible on prices of indecent assault and battery after a bench trial by Decide James Stanton in Boston, CNN reported.

The well-known chef's accuser, Natali Tene, 32, alleged that he groped her whereas she took a photograph with him at one in every of his eating places in Boston, Towne Range and Spirits, throughout an interplay earlier on March 31, 2017. Previous to the not responsible verdict, she took the stand Monday to testify concerning the expertise.

"His proper hand is throughout my breasts, throughout my rear finish, all between my legs," Tene advised prosecutor, Suffolk Assistant District Lawyer Nina Bonelli. "I've by no means been grabbed like that earlier than ... squeezing my vagina and pulling me nearer to him. As if that is a traditional approach to pull somebody in."

Mario Batali
Movie star chef Mario Batali listens throughout testimony at Boston Municipal Courtroom on the second day of his sexual misconduct trial on Tuesday, Could 10, 2022, in Boston. Batali was acquitted of a cost of indecent assault and battery stemming from accusations that he forcibly kissed and groped a lady after taking a selfie together with her at a Boston restaurant in 2017.Stuart Cahill/The Boston Herald by way of AP, Pool

Tene stated that she was unnerved when the chef requested her if she needed to return again to his lodge room after the alleged groping. She additionally famous that Batali's eyes have been closed in a few of the images she took and that she might scent alcohol on his individual.

"This man was wasted, for lack of a greater time period," Tene added.

Batali denied the allegations and entered a plea of not responsible. His lawyer, Anthony Fuller, stated throughout his opening statements Monday that the photograph and video proof from the chef's interplay with Tene didn't assist her claims. Batali beforehand waived his proper to a jury trial and requested for a bench trial, which the choose granted.

Stanton famous in his choice that Batali's conduct throughout the interplay was "not befitting of a public individual of his stature." Nonetheless, Stanton additionally said that Tene had "vital credibility points" which might lend credence to the argument from Batali's protection crew that "her motive was monetary acquire."

Batali confronted a handful of different allegations in 2017, with Eater publishing an article wherein 4 girls, talking anonymously, stated the chef of "touched them inappropriately in a sample of habits that seems to span not less than 20 years."

In mild of the allegations, which Batali persistently denied, he departed his function on ABC's sequence, "The Chew," and noticed his personal restaurant group lower ties with him. The Meals Community additionally suspended plans to start working with him once more.

Newsweek reached out to Fuller and Bonelli for remark.