I feel like we are at a point in our society where it’s becoming harder and harder to trust one another. When you go out into the world, you strike up a social contract of sorts with the universe: If I am good to others, good will be done unto me. Of course you can’t insulate yourself from every unpleasant experience, but in general, there are fair expectations.
I expect when I go to a restaurant and pay for food that the people prepping my food are doing it to the best of their abilities and creating something I can safely enjoy. Clearly, that isn’t always the case.
Jace Hanson, a restaurant worker in Johnson County, Kansas, was brazenly unsafe (and downright disgusting) while handling food at local eatery Leawood Hereford House in 2024. An affidavit explained that he was reported to the FBI after he allegedly posted videos of himself contaminating dishes by spitting in food, rubbing it on his body, stomping on it, and even in some cases urinating on it.
It showed that Hanson used apps like Grindr, where he claimed men requested he make specific videos like that involving customers’ food, according to KCTV. In his month working there, he claimed to have messed with the food at least 20 times. The outlet reported that Leawood police said more than 130 people called in to say they fell ill after dining at the now-closed restaurant.
Hereford House co-owner Camilla Hill reportedly testified, saying that the events caused an immediate drop in business and they were forced to close that location, according to Johnson County Post.
According to People, Hanson was arrested on April 25, 2024, after the FBI turned everything over to local authorities. Leawood Police Detective Jack Bond testified that in addition to the disturbing food contamination footage, authorities also found child sexual abuse material. It was so bad, Bond couldn’t review the footage all at once and claimed he had to take several breaks.
“It was the most brutal and violent child sexual-abuse material that I have ever seen,” Bond stated in court, according to the Johnson County Post.
Hanson was sentenced to 11 years and four months in prison, the maximum allowed under Kansas law.
