Ronald McDonald Breaks Restraining Order by Entering McDonald's
Ronald McDonald got in some trouble when he went into a McDonald's restaurant in violation of a restraining order against him.
There hasn't been a falling out between McDonald's and their cheerful clown mascot. The clown wasn't even involved in the incident. Instead this concerns a real man living in England named Ronald McDonald. His ex-wife took out a restraining order against him in September.
But McDonald violated that order when he followed his ex-wife into a McDonald's restaurant. She brought him back to court to settle the matter which led to some amusement.
When the charge of Ronald McDonald violating his restraining order by being in McDonald's was read, court staff had to stifle their giggles, reports The Mirror.
But the actual issue wasn't so funny.
McDonald violated his restraining order by following his ex-wife and then did it again by sending her a text message in October, according to Huffington Post.
He admitted to the crime and got a suspended sentence for 86 days.
Issuing a suspended sentence means that while the court imposes a given punishment, the defendant doesn't have to serve the time in jail. Often it comes with conditions that, if broken, result in the full sentence being imposed.
It wasn't mentioned but it's a good bet that if McDonald violates the restraining order again and tries to contact his ex-wife that he'll have to serve his sentence in jail.
As part of his sentence, he has to keep away from his wife three years.
No word on whether McDonald will be welcome in other McDonald's restaurants in the future. It's not his fault that he shares a name with their mascot but his behavior certainly isn't doing them any favors.
Related Resources:
- Ronald McDonald breaches restraining order by following wife to McDonald's (This is Kent)
- 'Happy Meal Ban' Takes Effect, Countered by 10-Cent Toy Fee (FindLaw's Common Law)
- Man Smoking Pot in McDonald's Drive Thru Busted by Cop Behind Him (FindLaw's Legal Grounds)