Photo by James Short.
Thomas Frank Denardo, 48, of Bellmawr, NJ, worked as a manager at Bella Cucina on Gravel Pike.
A New Jersey man has been charged with 43 sexual offenses of a minor stemming from incidents that allegedly occurred over a four-year period while employed as the manager of a Lower Frederick Township Italian restaurant.
Thomas Frank Denardo, 48, of the 50th block of Walnut Avenue, Bellmawr NJ, has been charged Aug. 13 by Lower Frederick Township Police with 10 felony counts each of involuntary deviate sexual intercourse, statutory sexual assault, and unlawful contact with a minor, and 10 misdemeanor charges of indecent assault with a victim under 16, according to court documents.
Denardo also faces one felony count each of aggravated indecent assault on a victim under 16 and endangering the welfare of a child, and a misdemeanor charge of corruption of minors, per court records.
According to court information, Denardo posted $10,000 cash bail on Aug. 29, after eight days in Montgomery County jail.
Authorities allege all crimes occurred at Bella Cucina Restaurant, 1461 N. Gravel Pike/Route 29, between January 2008 and December 2012.
On April 24, 2024, a 31-year-old female reported to police that she was sexually assaulted multiple times in 2008, while employed at the restaurant, at the age of 14, according to the affidavit.
During a May 6 interview with detectives, the victim told police she got the job at the restaurant and pizza shop at the age of 14. At the time, Denardo, who was in his 30s, was her boss and manager of the restaurant, police said.
One day, in 2008, authorities allege Denardo approached the then juvenile female and gave her an order ticket. Printed on it was this:
Who: You.
What: Anything we want to do.
Where: Anywhere.
When: Anytime.
How: However, we want.
Police allege Denardo asked for nude photographs. Sexual contact, police said, began at 15, and usually occurred in the upstairs storage area of the restaurant and at his Boyertown home.
Per the affidavit, the sexual encounters continued through the age of 17, frequently at Denardo’s Boyertown home on the 100 block of Ine Road in Berks County.
When the victim turned 18, police said she messaged Denardo’s wife at 9:20 p.m. Feb. 1, 2011, telling her about the alleged encounters and what he was doing to her. Initially, the wife did not believe the victim, but was convinced, police said, when the victim described the Denardo’s interior home in detail, including that he owns a cat that he hates because he is allergic.
According to the affidavit, the victim described in messages how Denardo would have the victim go upstairs at the restaurant to get plates, cups, and other items, and he would come up and scare her, which everyone found funny.
Then, authorities allege, Denardo provided details about his troubled marriage and pending divorce. There was a significant power imbalance, as he was her boss and in charge of her paycheck, per the complaint.
Authorities said the victim called Denardo on May 23, 2024, and asked for an apology, after telling him they did not have a relationship and she was 14 years old. Per the affidavit, Denardo apologized, said it was foolish and wrong, but things got crazy.
On May 29, police interviewed the victim’s mother, who said she found an explicit image of her daughter in her daughter’s emails, police said. The email was sent to a man she worked with at Bella Cucina, per the complaint. The victim’s mom implored her to quit her job, which she did, police said.
On May 30, police interviewed a former co-worker, who was 15 in 2008, and revealed Denardo was allegedly sexually suggestive to her and the victim while working, per the complaint. Denardo, authorities allege, would tell creepy jokes that were inappropriate for teens, was handsy, would put his arm around their shoulders and waists, and touched them in a casual way as he leaned on them.
The co-worker described Denardo’s actions as “grooming,” police said.
On June 11, detectives interviewed Denardo at the Bellmawr New Jersey Police Department. He allegedly told police his relationship with the victim was “strictly business” and denied any physical or sexual relationships, including bringing her to his Boyertown home.
Denardo, authorities allege, denied remembering reading any Facebook messages sent to his ex-wife that called him a pedophile and described the inappropriate relationship. Once he was shown the messages, he said it happened as the messages stated. “It is all there in black and white,” he said to police, per the report.
On June 11, Denardo’s ex-wife told police when they first read the messages, Denardo said the victim was lying and retaliating for being fired, according to the affidavit.
A former employee at the restaurant told authorities that Denardo, a pizza maker, had numerous infidelities and flirted with staff and customers, according to the affidavit.
A preliminary hearing was set for Tuesday morning before Magisterial District Judge Maurice H. Saylor.
Calls made to Bella Cucina for comment were not returned by publication.
All suspects and defendants are innocent until proven guilty. This story was compiled using public court records.
