Man In Smoothie-Throwing Case Assigned To Rehabilitation Program

FAIRFIELD, CT — James Iannazzo, the man accused of hitting a Fairfield worker with a smoothie and shouting bigoted profanities at employees, has been accepted to an accelerated rehabilitation program, according to reports.

Connecticut Superior Court Judge Peter McShane ruled on Thursday that Iannazzo will be placed under supervision for one year, according to City Wire USA. If he successfully completes the program, the charges against him are eligible for dismissal.

McShane also ordered that Iannazzo donate $500 to the Office of Victim Services, Bloomberg reported.

Iannazzo, who was charged with second-degree intimidation based on bigotry or bias, second-degree breach of peace and first-degree criminal trespass, announced his intent to apply for rehabilitation during a court appearance on March 9.

Accelerated rehabilitation participants are supervised by the Office of Adult Probation for up to two years, according to state statues. The program is available to defendants who are believed to be unlikely to re-offend and who have no previous record of conviction.

Related:

• Customer Shouts Profanities, Throws Smoothie: Fairfield Police
• Man Who Threw Smoothie Banned From Business After TikTok Rant
• Charges Could Be Dismissed In Fairfield Smoothie-Throwing Case

The incident that led to the charges against Iannazzo occurred Jan. 22, after he purchased a smoothie at Robeks, which caused his son to have a severe allergic reaction and be taken to the hospital, according to police.

Iannazzo returned to the business at 2061 Black Rock Turnpike and confronted the workers, police said.

He demanded to know who made the smoothie that triggered his son's peanut allergy, and, when employees could not answer the question, he became irate, screaming expletives, referencing one worker's immigration status and throwing the drink, striking an employee, police said.

Iannazzo also tried to open a locked door to access the "employees only" area, according to police.

The confrontation was recorded and posted on TikTok, where it was viewed more than 15 million times in less than 24 hours before being removed.

Iannazzo left the scene before police arrived but was quickly identified and turned himself in, telling officers he was upset about his son's allergic reaction, according to law enforcement, who said employees reported Iannazzo asked for no peanut butter in the drink but did not mention the allergy.