The former Santaniello’s restaurant owner from Stevensville, Raffaele Santaniello, has decided to plead guilty to charges of criminal sexual conduct.
If you remember the case, it was alleged Santaniello sexually assaulted a number of women employed at the restaurant. Santaniello was originally charged with multiple criminal sexual conduct offenses and kidnapping, all stemming from allegations dating back to 2013 made by now-former employees of Santaniello’s Glenlord Restaurant and Pizzeria.
The business has since closed and been sold.
Santaniello pleaded guilty in court this week to one count of second-degree criminal sexual conduct during the commission of another crime, and two counts of fourth-degree criminal sexual conduct using force or coercion. As part of the plea deal, the other charges were dropped.
Santianello is scheduled for sentencing on February 28. He faces up to 15 years in prison.
