Lowell Sheldon absent as co-owner of Handline restaurant in Sevastopol after sexual assault allegation

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Lowell Sheldon and his co-owners of the Handline restaurant in Sevastopol have separated after a sexual assault allegation against him was made public last week.

The restaurant had been pressured to sever ties with Sheldon over previous allegations of sexual harassment against him.

The San Francisco Chronicle reported last month that six women who had worked for Sheldon had accused him of sexual harassment, including unwanted touching and inappropriate comments dating back six years.

Last week, The Bohemian reported that Sheldon was charged with sexually assaulting a woman in November 2019 during a date at his home.

The woman told police she met Sheldon on a dating app and spoke to at least two witnesses to the assault at the time, according to the story.

The woman filed a complaint with the Sonoma County Sheriff’s Office on September 27, according to the report.

Sheriff’s Office spokeswoman Misti Wood confirmed to The Press Democrat that a complaint was filed on that date, but declined to release details of the incident citing strict privacy laws for cases of sexual assault.

The woman’s lawyer declined to comment on the allegation or to make her client available to The Press Democrat on Monday.

Sheldon sold his property in two other restaurants, Fern Bar and Khom Loi, both in Sevastopol after the harassment allegations surfaced.

He told The Press Democrat on September 25 that he still had a stake in Handline, but that I also have no involvement in a management role.

Three days ago, the restaurant said on its Instagram page that Sheldon no longer had a role in the business.

Today, after more than a year of negotiations, we are relieved to share that Lowell Sheldon has finally agreed to part ways with Handline, the post said.

Co-owner Natalie Goble wouldn’t comment on whether Sheldon had been bought out or whether he had given up his stake with her and the other investors. I’m not in a position to answer your questions at this time, although I think they are appropriate, she wrote in an email to The Press Democrat.

Goble was Sheldon’s former romantic partner and has two children with him.

Sheldon did not respond to calls for comment.

We are not and have never been indifferent to these questions. But we’ve also been legally bound in terms of communication through the steps required to ensure this process meets pre-existing laws and contractual obligations, the Instagram post continued.

The announcement comes after Handline came under fire on social media for failing to act to kick Sheldon out.

A number of posters said they would not frequent the restaurant until he left. We won’t be back until he enjoys the food we buy, one wrote on Instagram.

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