Owner of America’s Last Howard Johnson’s Charged With Sexually Abusing Employees

The owner of an upstate New York Howard Johnson’s is being charged with sexually abusing and harassing more than a dozen of his employees. 65-year-old Jonathan LaRock was arrested this week “on charges of sexual abuse, unlawful imprisonment and endangering the welfare of a child,” according to the Associated Press.

According to police, LaRock “sexually harassed about 15 female employees ranging in age from 14 to 43.” He is also accused of giving drugs and alcohol to underage employees. LaRock has pleaded not guilty to all the charges.

The Lake George restaurant has the distinction of being the last remaining Howard Johnson’s location; the chain of orange-roofed roadside restaurants once had hundreds of locations across the country, mostly located along interstates. The restaurant was the subject of a February 2017 Eater feature; the land it stands on is currently for sale.

• Owner of Last HoJo’s Restaurant Charged With Sexual Abuse [AP via US News]
• The Last Howard Johnson’s in the Universe [E]