FILE – In this May 24, 2019 file photo, chef Mario Batali departs after pleading not guilty, at municipal court in Boston, to an allegation that he forcibly kissed and groped a woman at a Boston restaurant in 2017. Batali waived his right to appear at a hearing on Friday, July 23 in Boston, and a hearing on defense motions was scheduled at a later date. (AP Photo/Josh Reynolds, File)
BOSTON (AP) — A hearing has been scheduled for next month in the indecent assault and battery case against celebrity chef Mario Batali.
Batali did not appear at a brief pre-trial hearing in a Boston courtroom on Friday. He had waived his right to appear.
A spokeswoman for the Suffolk District Attorney says the next hearing will be Aug. 30 when a defense motion will be heard. Batali again will not be required to attend.
Batali pleaded not guilty May 24 to a charge that he forcibly kissed and groped a woman at a Boston restaurant in 2017. His career crumbled in the wake of that and other accusations of sexual misconduct.
The accuser says Batali noticed her taking a photo of him at the restaurant and invited her to take a selfie with him. She says Batali then groped and kissed her repeatedly without her consent.
© Copyright 2019 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
