Manager Felony Charge
Former Arby's manager faces felony poisoning charge for allegedly giving customer herpes
A former Arby's manager in Broken Bow, Oklahoma, has been charged with felony poisoning after allegedly spitting in a customer's food and infecting her with herpes. Amanda Hendricks faces up to 15 years in prison if convicted, according to NewsChannel 5.
The victim, Shana Church, tested positive for the Herpes Simplex Virus in October 2023. She and her husband have filed a civil lawsuit seeking more than $75,000 in damages against Hendricks, Arby's, and the franchise owners, according to KXLF.
A Personal Grudge That Turned Into a Crime
The alleged motive stems from a workplace dispute. Shana Church's daughter, Hallee, had recently quit her job at the same Arby's after a falling-out with Hendricks. Prosecutors say Hendricks then began targeting Shana Church during her drive-thru visits in September 2023, according to WMAR 2 News.
Hendricks allegedly bragged to coworkers that she had been spitting in Church's sandwiches. Church learned about it through her daughter, who heard it from former coworkers. Church's attorney, Mark Hammons, said the case is about "a manager of a major food chain using food as a weapon to settle a personal grudge," according to KBZK.
Oklahoma Prosecutors Call It a Biological Assault
Hendricks was charged under Oklahoma Statute Title 21 § 651, which makes it a felony to "willfully mingle any poison with any food" with intent to injure. Prosecutors are arguing that saliva carrying the Herpes Simplex Virus counts as an "injury-producing substance" under that law. No one in Oklahoma has ever been prosecuted this way before, according to 10News.
The McCurtain County District Attorney's office filed charges in March 2024. Prosecutors say Hendricks's own bragging acts as a confession of intent — the key element needed to prove felony poisoning rather than a lesser charge.
Medical Science Makes the Case Hard to Prove
Virologists say HSV-1, the oral herpes virus, typically dies quickly outside the body and when exposed to heat. Proving that one specific sandwich caused the infection is a steep medical challenge. The World Health Organization estimates that about 67% of people under 50 already carry HSV-1, a fact the defense is expected to use to argue Church could have gotten the virus elsewhere.
Church began showing severe oral sores in October 2023, just weeks after her drive-thru visits. Her lawyers argue the timing links directly to the alleged tampering. Through her attorney, Church said the ordeal has caused "permanent injury" and "extreme emotional distress," according to KXLF.
Arby's Faces Lawsuit and a Major PR Nightmare
Arby's corporate issued a statement saying "the health and safety of our guests is a top priority" and that the franchisee is cooperating with local authorities. The civil lawsuit names Arby's, the franchise operator United States Restaurant Properties, and Hendricks personally. Arby's is fighting the claim by arguing an employer cannot be held liable for the criminal acts of a rogue employee.
The story went viral globally in April 2024. On social media, "Arby's Herpes Manager" became a widespread meme. Church's legal team argues the public attention has added to her "shame and emotional distress." The case is being watched closely as a potential landmark for food safety law across the country, according to WMAR 2 News.
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