BELLEVILLE, Ill., Aug. 22 (UPI) -- A jury in Illinois has returned a guilty verdict in the felony assault trial of a woman who beat a waitress in a dispute over an incorrect restaurant order.
The St. Clair County jury found Ania Wilkes, 21, of St. Louis, guilty Tuesday of felony assault and mob action for beating waitress Heather Frink at a Red Lobster in Fairview Heights, the Belleville (Ill.) News-Democrat reported.
Frink was waiting on a table where Wilkes and three other women were sitting Dec. 30, 2011. When she brought their food, she had broiled fish for Wilkes, who said she had ordered it fried.
Frink said she sent the dish back to the kitchen and brought Wilkes fried fish, served without charge.
She said she was about to check with the manager to see if the meal would be complimentary for the entire party when someone at the table called her a vile name.
"I turned around and told them they couldn't talk to me like that," she said. "That's when Ania grabbed her glass and threw it at my face. I was in shock when it happened. My face was all wet, I was in awe, like, 'Did that just really happen?'"
Frink, 34, said all four women then assaulted her, pushed her into a table, pulled her hair and struck her until other restaurant patrons pulled her away from her attackers. One patron shot cellphone video of the attack.
Frink was treated for injuries including cuts, bruises and swelling around her eye and went through physical therapy. She was able to return to work as a hostess, but says she is still afraid to go to work, or to leave work in the dark when she works nights.
