Woman gets 10 years for running over McDonald's manager

chron.com ^ | 11/4/03 | Metalboy

[metalboy]

Woman gets 10 years for running over McDonald's manager By ANDREW TILGHMAN Copyright 2003 Houston Chronicle A McDonald's customer who flew into a violent rage when she was denied mayonnaise on her cheeseburger got 10 years in prison today for running over the restaurant's manager.

Waynetta Nolan, 37, could have received as much as 20 years in prison for hitting Sherry Allen Jenkins with her car, dragging the employee across the parking lot and breaking her pelvis at the McDonald's in southwest Houston.

Nolan showed little emotion this afternoon when the jury came back with the punishment after four hours of deliberation. Earlier this morning, however, as the jury heard testimony in the punishment phase of Nolan's trial, her 43-year-old victim tearfully said she couldn't pick up her grandchildren because of the injuries she suffered in the incident.

"I put the mayonnaise on her burger," Jenkins told jurors. "I took the onions and the mustard off. What did I do?"

Jurors took less than an hour on Wednesday to convict Nolan of aggravated assault in the courtroom of state District Judge Brock Thomsas. Nolan testified then that she thought she had rolled over "a bump" when she ran over Jenkins.

Nolan was contrite during her testimony today and apologized for running over Jenkins on April 23. She said she had been going through "a bad time" in her life when she lost it in the drive-through line.

The incident began when an 18-year-old employee working at the drive-through window near Bissonnet and Beltway 8 told Nolan mayonnaise was not an option on McDonald's cheeseburgers. When Nolan became angry, she was encouraged to pull her car around to the window counter and speak to the manager.

Witnesses said Nolan cursed and threw a cheeseburger back though the drive-through window.

When Jenkins offered a special-order cheeseburger with mayonnaise, witnesses said, Nolan complained her french fries had grown cold. After receiving new fries, she then demanded a new drink.

Unable to pacify the belligerent customer, Jenkins finally called police, who asked her to get the customer's license plate number. Jenkins walked out to the drive-through line to get the number.

Nolan testified she had inched her car forward to put ketchup on her burger when she heard a car horn. Realizing she was blocking drive-through traffic, she said, she gunned her car forward and hit Jenkins.

After running over Jenkins, witnesses said, Nolan sped from the parking lot and drove into oncoming traffic on a one-way feeder road. She was arrested at her home after a man who saw the assault followed her and reported her plate to police.

Jurors had the option of convicting Nolan of a lesser crime, such as misdemeanor reckless driving, but prosecutors said it was her spectacular departure that likely led to her felony assault conviction.

"Did she stop?" asked Assistant District Attorney John Jordan. "Did she say, `Oh my Lord, what have I done?' "

Nolan's attorney, Troy Wilson, said his client simply panicked.

"I think more than anything, it was the panic afterward that hurt her with the jury."

[dougherty]

Was the victim also black?

Yes.

Also, the talk show host on KPRC, Chris Baker, had a field day with this story today. Fwiw, this nut has had previous arrests for assualt and prostitution.

[LittleRedRooster]

I really can't fault her. I have had the image of doing the same thing at several Memphis TN McDonalds when I was foolish enough to eat there.

If you go to Mickey D's you know what your going to get and it ain't mayo on your burger. Now we can bet this fat A$$ has been to McD many times so she knows the rules and she crossed a line and thank goodness she did it in Texas and got what she deserved.

[suzyq5558]

that is just awfull.

[suzyq5558]

LOL LOL! mcflattened... you are sooooo baaad :)

[suzyq5558]

they need to all be soundly spanked and sent to thier rooms for some serious thinking time,as this is something i do with my own 10 yr. olds for pete sakes.

and they can't come out of thier room intill they have given me the answer i need to hear to know that they have actually done a bit of thinking.
it seems that a lot of people act like they have been raised by barbarians.

[jagrmeister]

Sick human being. There is no excuse for this. Are we not doing a good enough job in society in developing people's consciences?

[richmwill]

Wonder if she'll scream when there's no mayo on her prison grub?

Rich

[Nov3]

Now we can bet this fat A$$ has been to McD many times so she knows the rules and she crossed a line and thank goodness she did it in Texas and got what she deserved.

Definitely, but she is still my hero. Maybe the McD's are staffed differently in your area to put it politely.

It is a crying shame when, in a city the size of Memphis, you can't get a hot hamburger and fries without going to a sit down resturant. Add to that the completely vulgar and offensive attitude of the staff and it gets ridiculous. You don't have a clue until you live it daily.

I worked at one in the 70's for a few months. It was all high school kids and one manager and the place ran like a dream. Hot food, freshly prepared and fast. I go to communities outside Memphis and most of the time get decent service if I choose to try it.

I have been on Atkin's for seven years now so it pretty much is a non issue for me.

McD's is toast in Memphis because of people like this manager. Nobody that has a choice eats there.

[Michael.SF.]

I now tell people like this that they are acting inappropriately and need to leave or I will call the police.

Seems like a door lock and a buzzer would be worth the small investment.

[PBRSTREETGANG]

Are we not doing a good enough job in society in developing people's consciences?

Not for quite some time now.

[GWfan]

I agree. I worked as a waitress for 8 or so years while I went through undergrad and grad school. I thought that I would FINALLY be treated with respect upon graduation. I am still waiting.

[GWfan]

what planet do they come from?

Planet clueless. ;)

[ladyjane]

Careful. The last time I brought her name up I was called an antisemite.

[JoeSchem]

we are surrounded by rude,crude,crankasses. to get so angry you run someone over??

Call me mean and unforgiving, but it's nice to see one of the crankasses get her comeuppance. Apparently the liberal courts failed to miserve justice.

[GWfan]

I have to keep the door open during appointment hours.

Like I said, now all I do is tell them that they are displaying inappropriate behavior and they should leave or I will call the police. So far, so good.

[cyborg]

Lizzie Grubman seemed like a very different person when I met her. Jail and community service must have been very humbling.

[Merdoug]

I believe that "polite" people are being weeded out of the gene pool. I think that behavior is a large part in the genes and these in-born traits are just brought-out thru education. Manners have no longer been needed for the past 30 years and "nice polite" people no longer have children. Think about it: who do young women marry now? Scummmy low-lifes. :) Polite people are an endangered species. Could also be that, since everyone can pretty much live okay by themselves now ( either independent or sucking off the government), our "social" bonding for survival is no longer needed and, therefore, being polite to others is also no longer needed. It's every person for themselves now.

[csvset]

Reports stated she shouted," Bam, another notch! ", as she drove away.

Perhaps she can work in the prison kitchen, serving fellow inmates.

[cyborg]

People are taught that being polite does not get results. Being nice and respectful are interpreted as a weakness. Think of how people have to get nasty in order to get refunds from utility companies. I've worked in return departments where I've been called everything unimaginable for not returning used underwear. If you say, 'sir or ma'am', it's now a crime. I once addressed a man 'sir' and he gave me a long speech about not calling him sir because of white people. So I said, so you rather be called a nasty racial epithet?

[Twinkie]

Miz Nolan will probably grow to appreciate a cheeseburger
with salad dressing in the pokey. That's what they get in
the pokey. No mayo. Hold the pickle, Hold the lettuce,
Special orders do upset us - - In Corrections- In
Corrections - - - A sad story.