Kansas Restaurant Worker Who Filmed Himself Urinating on Food Sentenced

Jace Hanson, 22, was sentenced to 11 years and 4 months in prison on October 9, 2025, after a Johnson County, Kansas, judge handed down the maximum sentence allowed under state law. Between late March and April 2024, Hanson filmed himself contaminating food at the Hereford House steakhouse in Leawood, Kansas, where he worked as a cook-in-training, and posted the videos online under the username “Vandalizer.” He admitted to contaminating food approximately 20 times over the course of a month. The videos showed him urinating in Au Jus sauce and pickle jars, pressing food against his genitals and buttocks, and stomping on meals before they were served. An anonymous tip reportedly led the FBI to the footage, which was traced back to Hanson via IP address and other digital evidence.

What Was Found on His Devices

When authorities searched Hanson’s devices, they discovered child sexual abuse material described by Leawood Police Detective Jack Bond as “the most brutal and violent child sexual-abuse material that I have ever seen” - so disturbing he had to take breaks while reviewing it. The discovery added 10 felony counts of child sexual exploitation to the existing charges, alongside 22 counts of criminal threat related to the food contamination and one count of criminal damage over $25,000.

Sentencing and Fallout

At sentencing, the judge expressed deep concern about Hanson’s “future danger” to the community. Hanson apologized to his family, coworkers, and Hereford House patrons, saying “I would take it all back if I could.” The assistant district attorney noted that Hanson’s actions “singlehandedly” led to the closure of the Hereford House’s Leawood location, which shut in August 2024 following the scandal. Nearly 400 food-poisoning complaints were filed with local police during the investigation, and at least 13 civil lawsuits were brought against the restaurant. Hanson told investigators he contaminated the food partly because men he met online requested the videos, and partly because he disliked his job.

References: Restaurant Worker Filmed Himself Urinating on Food - What Cops Found on His Phone Was Even Worse | Judge upbraids man who contaminated steak restaurant’s food | KC man who contaminated food at Hereford House gets 11 years