'Incidental Splashing' Scalded Morris QuickChek Worker: Lawyer

CEDAR KNOLLS, NJ - The attorney for a 42-year-old Randolph man facing an assault charge after an altercation with a Quick Chek employee over properly wearing a mask, says his client is being used as a human vehicle for a political agenda.

John DeDolce was charged with simple assault, endangering another person and violating an executive order for his actions on Aug. 7 which began when a clerk asked him to adjust his mask so it covered his nose, according to the Hanover Township Police.

After two warnings, DeDolce had his order canceled by an employee and police say he threw his items to the ground and his coffee scalded the legs of an employee.

Attorney Andrew DeLaney said his client threw his items on the ground in frustration, but he never threw nor intended to throw coffee at any employee of QuickChek, as is alleged. DeLaney also said that the only coffee that got on the employee whatsoever was on the lower part of her body and resulted from "incidental splashing."

"In fact, it would have been nearly impossible for the employee to have only gotten coffee in the lower part of her body as she alleges, if my client truly intended to cause her bodily injury as she alleges," he said. "My client would like to make it unequivocally clear: He would never intentionally hurt a stranger doing their job, and any suggestion to the contrary is patently false."

DeLaney told Patch his client has been subjected to a campaign of mischaracterization that has painted him as a "monster frothing with violent intent."

"A mischaracterization campaign that has harmed him, his family, his business and his reputation," DeLaney said. "In the process, the truth has taken a back seat to creating a compelling news media narrative that fits neatly along the fault line of perhaps the most hot button political issue of our current time."

Delaney said that he fully anticipates that not only will all charges be dismissed, but that DeDolce will be vindicated.

According to authorities, Officer Rich Camasta investigated the initial incident, noting the employee complained of pain to her legs due to the hot coffee but was able to get the plate number from Dedolce's vehicle and provided it to Camasta, police said.

Camasta reviewed the surveillance video of the incident and was able to identify Dedolce through his registration and complaint summons were prepared and mailed.

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