The Orange County Criminal Lawyer Blog
The bride and caterer at a Florida wedding are facing felony charges after allegedly putting marijuana in the food at the reception and failing to tell the guests what they were consuming.
42-year-old Andrew Svoboda and his significant other, Danya, got married on February 19. They held their reception, which was reportedly attended by approximately 50 guests, at a clubhouse in a gated community outside of Orlando.
According to reports, the event was catered by 31-year-old Joycelyn Montrinice Bryant, who runs a catering business called “Joycelyn’s Southern Kitchen.”
The guests were served a spread including dishes such as lasagna, baguette with olive oil and herb spread, and chocolate-dipped strawberries.
A while after many of the guests ate, they reported that they began to feel unwell.
Some of them reported feeling physically sick, and others described experiencing horrible anxiety and frightening psychological symptoms.
A few of the attendees were familiar with the effects of marijuana edibles, and they asserted that they felt “high” after eating some of the food at the celebration.
A handful of the guests went to the hospital because they felt they needed medical attention.
According to the authorities, the wedding attendees had their urine tested at the hospital for the presence of narcotics, and they tested positive for THC.
Of the people who became ill, all of them reportedly said they would prosecute the culprit if they learned someone had drugged their food.
The Seminole County Sheriff’s Office sent deputies to the location, and when they arrived, they reported that they saw some of the catering staff leaving in their vehicles. They believed that the workers were trying to remove themselves before the authorities reached the clubhouse.
The deputies said that the groom said he did not know about any marijuana being added to the food, and it was reported that he seemed surprised by the situation.
When they spoke with one of the wedding guests, the person allegedly told them that Danya admitted to purposely serving the unknowing guests the food laced with marijuana.
On April 18, Danya Svoboda and Bryant were placed under arrest. They are each facing felony drug charges for delivering marijuana and tampering with guests’ food, in addition to a misdemeanor culpable negligence charge.
If you or someone you love is suspected of a criminal offense, contact Orange County criminal defense lawyer Staycie R. Sena at (949) 477-8088 for a consultation now.