Posted on 05/15/2020 1:30:22 PM PDT by nickcarraway
On Wednesday the Monterey County District Attorney's Office filed criminal charges against the owner of the Tuck Box restaurant in Carmel for defying California's stay-at -home-order.
Tuck Box owner Jeffrey LeTowt said he has no plans to close his business and on Thursday he was still seating and serving guests.
Advertisement "I'm still going to stay open, if you want to send a SWAT team and come and cuff me, come on and do it," said LeTowt.
LeTowt closed his doors when Monterey County issued its shelte-in-place-order in March. He estimates he lost about $60,000 in revenue following the order.
The SIP was scheduled to expire the first week of May but was instead revised and that is when LeTowt decided to reopen. Starting on May 3 the Tuck Box let patrons dine-in, which is still prohibited under the state and county orders in Carmel.
"My constitutional rights are being violated, first and fifth, I don't know, I shouldn't have to suffer financial hardship because of this," said LeTowt.
LeTowt said he was unable to pay the rent for his restaurant or the mortgage and property taxes for his home because of his losses.
"You don't have the right to bankrupt me," said LeTowt.
Emily Hickock a deputy district attorney for Monterey County said if LeTowt refuses to close additional action will be taken.
"If we need to take additional action to secure compliance then we will do that," said Hickock.
LeTowt was cited not just for allowing customers to dine-in but for not spacing customers six feet apart and for not wearing face coverings when serving patrons. In total the three misdemeanor charges carry penalties of up to $3,000 in fines and or one and a half years in jail.
"It would be in the judge's discretion to come up with the penalty but that is a possibility," said Hickok.
LeTowt said authorities will have to arrest him because he is staying open.
I’m here now
Ordered Portabella burger
Waitress thanked everyone for being so nice and a bunch of stood and cheered “Freedom!”
LOL
Bunch of free thinkers
Really nice people
Coming back
Excellent work, leave a big tip.
$20 bucks
She teared up
Real nice gal
The NMFS is doing a bang up job of putting us fishermen in California out of business.
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