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‘Knucklehead’ Charged with Terroristic Threats for Allegedly Coughing on Grocery Clerk

A New Jersey man was charged with harassment and making terroristic threats after allegedly purposely coughing on a Wegmans grocery store employee and saying he had coronavirus.

George Falcone, 50, of Freehold, in the southern part of the state, was charged Tuesday by the New Jersey attorney general for allegedly making the threats on Sunday in a Wegmans supermarket in Manalapan. Falcone was standing close to an employee near the store’s prepared food section when the worker asked him to move back, the state attorney general said in a statement.

Instead, Falcone stepped closer to her, leaned in and coughed, the statement said. He laughed, telling the woman he was infected with coronavirus and also telling two other employees they are “lucky” to have jobs.

“These are extremely difficult times in which all of us are called upon to be considerate of each other, not to engage in intimidation and spread fear, as alleged in this case,” Grewal said in the statement. “We must do everything we can to deter this type of conduct and any similar conduct that harms others during this emergency.”

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The third-degree terrorism charge carries a sentence of three to five years in state prison, and the harassment charge a sentence of up to six months. Falcone was also charged with obstructing administration of law in the fourth degree, which carries a sentence of up to 18 months. New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy called Falcone a “knucklehead” during a Tuesday press briefing, according to NJ.comNBC News

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