Nov 17: A couple pleaded guilty to beating the owner of a Baxley chicken restaurant and her daughter over complaints of cold chicken and too few French fries in their order, the district attorney said. Nathaniel Eric Smith, 45, and Latasha Denise Smith, 28, pleaded guilty in Camden County Superior Court to aggravated assault and cruelty to children in the beating, District Attorney Jackie Johnson said.
The beating was captured on surveillance video that aired on every major network and many other news outlets. It first showed Latasha Smith beating Jeanette Norris, the owner of the Qwik Chick in downtown Baxley in June. When Norris’ 15-year-old daughter got out of a vehicle to help her mother, Nathaniel Smith punched her in the face knocking her down, the video showed.
Norris suffered a broken nose and her daughter was treated for a concussion. After Latasha Smith complained that her chicken was cold and she wasn’t given enough food, Norris refunded her money but the woman persisted in cursing Norris and beating on the restaurant’s takeout windows before attacking Norris.
The Smiths were easily recognized on the video and warrants were issued for their arrests. They were at large for days but finally surrendered to the Bryan County sheriff and were taken back to Appling County for booking.
Superior Court Judge Robert Guy accepted the Smiths’ guilty pleas and will sentence them at a later date. The case was moved to Camden County because of extensive publicity in Appling County.
Jacksonville.com