Woman wins ruling in chili finger scam
SAN JOSE, Calif. -- A woman convicted of planting a dismembered finger in a bowl of chili at a Wendy's restaurant could have her prison sentence reduced by two years after a state court of appeal ruled in her favor on Friday.
Anna Ayala, 41, claimed in March 2005 that she had bitten into a human finger while eating chili. A judge sentenced she and her husband, Jaime Placencia, to nine-year prison terms for the scam.
In an appeal of her sentence, Ayala's lawyers argued that because of a flaw in California sentencing laws, Judge Edward Davila should not have imposed the harshest possible sentence, five years, on one felony count of presenting a false insurance claim.
On Friday, the Sixth District Court of Appeal agreed and ordered Davila to resentence her. Under current state law, it is likely the sentence will be reduced to three years.
