Mario Batali faces criminal charges for alleged sexual misconduct in Boston

Disgraced celebrity chef Mario Batali is facing a criminal charge in Boston after a woman reported that he groped her in March 2017.

The accuser's name was not released, however the Suffolk County District Attorney's Office revealed that there is a correlation between the facts and a 2018 lawsuit filed against Batali by a Massachusetts woman.

"Batali, 58, is charged with indecent assault and battery in what appears to be the first criminal charge to arise from a series of sexual misconduct allegations against him. He is scheduled to be arraigned in Boston Municipal Court on Friday morning," The Boston Globe reports.

Over a year ago, Batali admitted to sexual misconduct, but this is the first time that he is being criminally charged. If convicted, Batali faces up to two and a half years in prison and would have to register as a sex offender.

The incident detailed by police claims that the women was "taking a picture of Batali over her shoulder when he noticed her and told her to 'come here right now,'" according to court records. "She went over to apologize and tell him she would erase the photo, but Batali told her it was OK and offered to take a selfie with her."

"As she stood next to his bar stool, Batali put his arm around the woman and then grabbed her chest. He then allegedly started kissing her face and touching her groin without her consent, records show."

"The woman said she stopped taking photos and pulled away from Batali. She said he kept 'pulling on her face' and asked her if she wanted to join him in his hotel room nearby at the Mandarin Oriental, adding that Batali seemed intoxicated 'by the smell and half closed eyes,'" according to the criminal complaint.