Man pleads guilty to offering semen-tainted yogurt

[October 07, 2011]  ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) -- A grocery store worker accused of handing out a semen-tainted yogurt sample at an Albuquerque market pleaded guilty Thursday.

Under terms of his plea agreement, Anthony Garcia admitted he tainted a sample of the yogurt he was handing out at Sunflower Market in January. He also admitted putting some of his semen on a plastic spoon that he placed with the yogurt.

Garcia then approached a female customer and offered her a sample.

"The criminal conduct to which Anthony Garcia pleaded guilty today is completely outrageous," U.S. Attorney Kenneth J. Gonzales said after Garcia's appearance in federal court. "No one should have to endure this type of experience simply because she or he accepts a food sample while shopping for groceries."

Garcia, 32, pleaded guilty to charges of adulterating food and making false statements to federal investigators.

The woman told police that after tasting the sample, she spit on the floor several times and wiped her mouth on the garment she was wearing to get the taste out of her mouth. Investigators collected samples of the woman's spit from the floor and took the garment she was wearing as evidence.

Police say Garcia was linked to the yogurt through DNA samples. Authorities said Garcia then lied to investigators about the case.

In court documents, federal prosecutors called the allegations "sickening and appalling."

Garcia faces up to three years of imprisonment to be followed by three years of supervised release. He has been in federal custody since his arrest in July, and remained detained pending his sentencing, which has yet to be scheduled.

[Associated Press; By RUSSELL CONTRERAS]

Copyright 2011 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.