SAN DIEGO — Through his attorney, Chef Geoffrey Cole pleaded not guilty to all charges Monday at his arraignment in a downtown courtroom.
The 41-year-old faces four charges, including two felony counts of sexual battery by restraint.
Cole was arrested April 1, just hours after a grand opening ceremony for his new restaurant in Downtown San Diego, Brunch After Dark.
CBS 8 interviewed him shortly after he was released on bail. He told us he had no idea why he was arrested.
“They said it's a case from my last restaurant,” Cole told us during that interview. Adding, “I'm like, I still don't know who the victims are. I don't know what the situation is. So, I really don't have much to talk about what happened.”
But court documents obtained by CBS 8 show the incident allegedly happened back in May 2023, saying Cole “did willfully and unlawfully touch an intimate part” of two different women while they were unlawfully restrained.
Cole is free on $70,000 bail and Judge John Pro allowed him to remain out of custody as long as he agrees to keep his distance from the alleged victims.
“You must stay 100 yards away from their homes, jobs, work place, vehicle, schools, any location where either one of these two people are located,” Pro told Cole. “Do you understand the conditions of the court allowing you to remain on your previously posted bond?” he asked Cole. “Yes,” Cole replied.
Because prosecutors didn't dispute Cole's current bail amount, no new details were given in court regarding the alleged crimes, but after the hearing, Deputy District Attorney Zaxhary Wallace made it clear that Cole's notoriety as a chef and entrepreneur in the community will not play a role in this case.
“Our analysis is about what happened here,” Wallace said. “What does the law say the crime is for this kind of conduct? What does the law say the punishment is and we try to treat everyone as equal as possible.”
More details should be presented at Cole’s preliminary hearing, which is scheduled for June 18. If convicted on all current charges, Cole could face up to six years behind bars.
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