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French Fry Attack: Man Charged with Oily Assault on Stepdaughter

By Deanne Katz, Esq. on June 27, 2012 | Last updated on March 21, 2019

French fries aren't good for you and too many can probably shorten your lifespan. But that's not what Massachusetts police meant when they charged James Hackett for assault and battery with a deadly weapon.

Laws criminalizing assault with a deadly weapon are often fairly open ended to allow for the many objects that can be used as deadly weapons.

This may be the first time that a french fry has fallen into that category.

Hackett, 26, and his wife were arguing in the car as they went through a drive through at McDonalds according to a report by CBS Boston. His stepdaughter interrupted the argument in an attempt to diffuse the tension.

In response, Hackett allegedly threw his just-made french fries at the girl, hitting her face and neck.

Sure, the idea of a deadly french fry is pretty funny, but there's a serious side to this story. Freshly made french fries are hot! Those delicious spuds are also covered in oil and hot oil on skin is not the best combination.

The girl is not seriously hurt, but the oil could have caused some serious burns to her skin and eyes as noted by the police report.

Hackett is free on bail and pleaded not guilty to the charges against him. While he awaits his hearing, Hackett was ordered to have no contact with his stepdaughter. That will likely only increase any friction between him and his wife who is after all the child's mother.

In the meantime, take this as a lesson against assaulting people with your lunch. After all, it's all fun and games until someone gets a french fry in the eye.

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