ASPEN – A Colorado man pleaded guilty to violating a county coronavirus health order for coughing in a woman’s face.
Tom Patierno was given a six-month deferred sentence and is expected to serve six months of supervised probation, The Aspen Times reported.
Pitkin County Public Health Director Karen Koenemann charged Patierno with a misdemeanor violation of a March 23 public health order for not social distancing.
Patierno must perform 60 hours of public service, attend 18 hours of mental health counseling and write an apology letter to the 68-year-old woman. The case will be dismissed and removed from his record if he meets all requirements.
Patierno told police he “got in the woman’s face” March 29 and made at least a “coughing gesture” after she asked him to move over as they approached each other on the Rio Grande Trail in Aspen.
The woman said she did not develop COVID-19 after the interaction.
