Guilty plea in Wendy's chili finger case

Knight Ridder ^ | 9/9/5 | Chuck Carroll

[SmithL]

Anna Ayala has pleaded guilty to charges she planted a human finger in a bowl of Wendy's chili as part of a scheme to defraud the fast food chain.

The deal was reached this morning in a San Jose courthouse. Ayala also pleaded guilty to a unrelated charge that she defrauded a San Jose woman in a mobile home sale.

Ayala's husband, Jaime Plascencia, is also expected to plead guilty. But discussions regarding that deal haven't been completed yet.

Plascencia and Ayala had been charged with two felony charges in connection with the Wendy's case: conspiracy to file a false charge and attempted grand theft with damages exceeding $2.5 million. Prosecutors contend they meant to extract a large amount of money from Wendy's in a settlement and cost the company and its employees a great deal of money because of the bad publicity.

The maximum penalty for those counts is more than nine years for Ayala and 13 years for Plascencia.

Ayala was also charged with grand theft for selling a mobile home that she did not own.

Ayala's claim to have found a partial severed human finger in a bowl of chili she ordered at a San Jose Wendy's restaurant in March was widely publicized. Prosecutors believe she and her husband hoped to cash in with a large legal settlement from Wendy's, and insist they are prepared to prove every allegation against the couple.

[swordfish]

Still unanswered ?...where did she get the finger?

[Millee]

What a witch. Plus it creeps me out thinking that she was carrying someones finger around. Yuck! Elevator definately doesn't go to the top floor.

[The Red Zone]

face, meet smack

[Welsh Rabbit]

Naw, I just wear red flannel so one can tell the difference (I hope).

[Rio]

Too bad. I wanted to get on the jury for this one. Would have been a real circus.

No deals according to the San Jose Mercury News story today:

---

The guilty pleas were announced in the courtroom of Judge Edward Davila. Closed-door discussions had been taking place to reach a deal in the case. But Ayala and Plascencia reportedly pleaded guilty to all charges without any conditions.

Prosecutor David Boyd said ``in all likelihood'' he will seek the maximum penalties against Ayala and Plascencia when they appear for sentencing on Nov. 2.

Rick Ehler, Ayala's attorney, said his client felt bad from the beginning about how the scam affected Wendy's employees.

Charles Kramer, Plascencia's attorney, said little as he left the courtroom.

One of Ayala's sister cried after the guilty verdicts.

Ayala also pleaded guilty to a unrelated charge that she defrauded a San Jose woman in a mobile home sale. And Plascencia also pleaded guilty to four felony counts for failure to pay child support, child abandonment, identity theft and fraudulent use of official documents.

Ayala's claim to have found a partial severed human finger in a bowl of chili she ordered at a San Jose Wendy's restaurant in March was widely publicized. Prosecutors believe she and her husband hoped to cash in with a large legal settlement from Wendy's, and insisted from the beginning they are prepared to prove every allegation against the couple.

[SmithL]

The finger came from a co-worker of her husband. It was severed in a work accident and given to this couple to settle a debt.

[Serb5150]

Looks like they nailed her...

[Fierce Allegiance]

ROFL!

[Fierce Allegiance]

Ba Da Bump!

[Musket]

Another fine Liberal.

[Bob]

Missed it by a single 'digit'.

Arrrrgh!! Sorry, I couldn't 'finger' out what you were saying. :=)

[radiohead]

The maximum penalty for those counts is more than nine years for Ayala and 13 years for Plascencia.

They should serve every day of the max penalty.

[Logic n' Reason]

Did anybody think to check Bush's hands for a missing finger???

I'll just bet it's Bush's finger!!

Quick, let's get Pee-low-seee (d - cal) on the line and have her cackle over and over, "I told you so", until the MSM prints/reports/shows, and tells all of us!

IT'S BUSH'S FAULT!!!!

[moog]

She'll have to do community service at KFC--finger licking that is.

[moog]

Elevator definately doesn't go to the top floor.

It stopped at the hands.

[moog]

Sorry, I couldn't 'finger' out what you were saying----

Look in the index and I'll point it out.

[moog]

"I'll just bet it's Bush's finger!!"

It was his middle one. The undercover liberal informant codenamed Iron Mike bit it off--trying to add to his collection.

[YouPosting2Me]

"Look in the index and I'll point it out."

Give him a hand. (clap, clap, clap).

Snap your fingers.

Twiddle your thumbs.

[moog]

Look in the index and I'll point it out." Give him a hand. (clap, clap, clap). Snap your fingers. Twiddle your thumbs. I certainly have no idea what you are saying:). Mine was just a dumb pun once again--index--point--finger. Get it?? :)) (double chin)

[BJClinton]

I gotta hand it to you, that was funny.