The 59-year-old convicted sex offender, Awny Basta, is back behind bars after violating his probation by entering another Chick-fil-A location in Polk County.
The Polk County Sheriff’s Office (PCSO) confirmed that the arrest occurred just days after Basta was given the specific conditions of his felony probation.
The Details of the Incident
- The Violation: Basta was spotted by a deputy inside the Chick-fil-A on Landings Boulevard in Winter Haven. Surveillance footage captured him walking through the parking lot and entering the restaurant to use the restroom. He later admitted to deputies that he had gone inside.
- The Strict Court Order: His probation explicitly mandated: “I shall stay away from the businesses involved in each case to include all locations in Polk County. I shall not visit or have contact with any Starbucks or Chick-Fil-A restaurant in Polk County.”
- The Response: Because he broke those terms just four days after they were issued, he was arrested on the spot and charged with violation of probation. Reflecting on the arrest, Sheriff Grady Judd noted in his typical fashion, “We do serve chicken at the county jail, but it’s nothing like Chick-fil-A.”
History of the Case
Basta has a documented history of similar offenses across multiple states and local establishments:
| Year | Location / Establishment | Incident & Outcome |
| 2006–2011 | Tennessee | Incarcerated three times on sexual battery charges. |
| 2015 | Panera Bread (Lakeland) | Arrested for groping a woman; served 180 days in jail. |
| 2023 | Starbucks (Lakeland) | Arrested for groping a woman; charged with felony battery and violation of probation. Released in October 2024. |
| 2024 | Chick-fil-A (S. Florida Ave, Lakeland) | Arrested for repeatedly groping a 16-year-old girl doing schoolwork. Served an 18-month prison sentence before being placed on the current felony probation. |
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Ok, this VOP pedo needs to go away for a long time! Apparently he has not learned his lesson. This is one sick POS, that does not need to be in society! If he doesn’t go away for a long time something is truly wrong with the system!!! 🤬 He has been doing this for over 15 years! How many times has he not been caught? I hope he D*es in prison!!!