Pennsylvania woman Margaret Cirko, 37, was arrested Thursday after deliberately coughing on produce in local grocery store and charged with making terrorist threats
A Pennsylvania woman who pleaded guilty to coughing and spitting on food at a supermarket in the early days of the coronavirus pandemic was sentenced to at least a year in jail.
Margaret Ann Cirko, 37, pleaded guilty in June to a felony count of making bomb threats.
Authorities said Cirko entered Gerrity's Supermarket in Hanover Township, near Wilkes-Barre, on March 25, 2020, and purposely coughed on fresh produce and other merchandise while yelling that she had the virus.
She continued 'in several aisles before attempting to steal a 12-pack of beer as she was being ordered to leave the store by employees', police said.
'I have the virus and you're all going to get sick!' Cirko allegedly yelled while coughing and spitting near the bakery section as well as the produce area.
Joe Fasula, co-owner of the supermarket chain, said that more than $35,000 worth of merchandise had to be thrown out as a result of what the Gerrity's Facebook page called a 'twisted prank.'
Cirko tested negative for COVID-19, according to her attorney, who said she was intoxicated at the time of the incident.
Cirko apologized in court during the Tuesday sentencing.
Cirko, pictured in a police car after her arrest on Thursday March 26, pleaded guilty in June to a felony count of making bomb threats
She was sentenced Tuesday to at least a year in jail. Following the coughing incident she was sent for mental health evaluation at a local hospital, where she was also tested for COVID-19
'I wish I could take it back,' she said.
A Luzerne County judge called Cirko's conduct 'totally outrageous' and sentenced her to one to two years in jail, to be followed by eight years of probation. She also was ordered to pay nearly $30,000 in restitution.
Thomas S. Cometa, Cirko’s attorney, tried to have the bomb threat charge dismissed after claiming the statute would require a mechanical device, not include bodily fluids, however the judge ultimately upheld the charge levied against her, the Times Leader reported last month.
The outlet reports that Cirko's case is predicted to be a future legal precedent, due to the fact that there haven't been any other previous cases involving bodily fluids being classified as a bomb threat.
However, prosecutors withdrew charges of making terroristic threats, criminal attempt to commit theft, and criminal mischief under Cirko's plea agreement.
Gerrity's supermarket owne Joe Fasula restocking shelves after Cirko coughed on $35,000 worth of produce and meat, threatening to expose people to the coronavirus
Fasula had no choice but to throw out some of the merchandise she coughed on worth more than $35,000, he told the press following the incident
Due to coronavirus concerns, Cirko was arraigned by District Judge Joseph A. Halesey from the backseat of a police cruiser after being discharged from the hospital following her arrest
Meanwhile, Fasula lamented the loss of food, citing the then-mounting issue of supply as panic, fueled by the onset of the pandemic, caused many shoppers to raid market shelves in fear of food shortages.
'I am also absolutely sick to my stomach about the loss of food. While it is always a shame when food is wasted, in these times when so many people are worried about the security of our food supply, it is even more disturbing,' Fasula, the store's co-owner, shared on Facebook shortly after the incident in March 2020.
After the incident, the store deep cleaned its shelves to assure it was safe.
'Today was a very challenging day. While there is little doubt this woman was doing it as a very twisted prank, we will not take any chances with the health and well-being of our customers,' Fasula added.
The exterior of Gerrity's grocery store in Hanover Township
Cirko was initially arrested and charged with two felony counts of terrorist threats, one felony count of threat to use a 'biological agent' and one felony count of criminal mischief, as well as misdemeanor counts of criminal attempt to commit retail theft and disorderly conduct.
Following the coughing incident she was sent for mental health evaluation at a local hospital, where she also tested was for COVID-19.
Due to coronavirus concerns, Cirko was arraigned in the backseat of a police cruiser after being discharged from the hospital following her arrest and driven to the office of District Judge Joseph A. Halesey in Hanover Township, according to a report by the Times Leader at the time.
In April of this year, Cirko was arrested again on unrelated charges after refusing to leave an area church while claiming that she was a 'child of God.'
Over the course of one day, she attempted to gain entry to the Welsh Presbyterian Church three times, with prosecutors in the case saying after being told twice to leave church grounds, Cirko returned for a third time, while pounding on the doors and yelling 'Let me in, God. I love you.'
In the April case, Cirko pleaded guilty to one misdemeanor count of defiant trespassing where she was fined $276, the Morning Call reports.
