The Charlotte Observer reports that state records show the 22-year-old suspected killer was released from prison in November 2011, after serving nearly two years for robbery and breaking and entering. He is accused of stabbing the pregnant 25-year-old restaurant manager to death and prosecutors say he will also be charged with a second count of murder for the woman’s unborn child.
The Flying Biscuit Café in Charlotte, North Carolina also faces possible fines or other penalties from the Alcohol Law Enforcement (ALE) division for hiring the ex-felon since a state alcohol law does not allow businesses to hire felons convicted in the last three years for jobs that involve serving alcohol.
According to the article in the Observer, the cafe’s owner told ALE agents that no background check was performed on the suspect, even though he had acknowledged a past conviction during his interview. It’s uncertain though if the owner of the restaurant knew the nature of the previous conviction. The café worker was convicted in 2009 of robbing a drive-in restaurant where he worked and was put on probation for the crime but then sent to prison after subsequently being charged with breaking and entering.
The president of a Charlotte-based human resources group, The Employers Association, who was interviewed for the story said that many small businesses “just don’t think about background checks, or say they don’t have the money.” A survey of The Employer Association’s nearly 900 member businesses revealed that while 90 percent of large companies with 500 or more employees in the Charlotte region performed pre-employment background checks, only about 20 percent of small businesses with 20 or fewer employees said they conducted background checks. Such failure to pay on the front end for a background check may ultimately cost the owner of the café far more in the long run.
If you or someone you know find yourself in need of the services of a Charlotte criminal defense attorney, please contact Arnold & Smith, PLLC for a free consultation at 1-704-370-2828. They promise to treat every client with dignity and respect and work hard to provide the best possible representation.
Source
Killing puts background checks in spotlight
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