NC State students report sexual assault by Gumby's Pizza clerk

Ed Crump Image
Friday, October 13, 2017
Raleigh pizza worker fired, charged after sexual assault allegations
Aurelio Discala allegedly made advances on two customers, both NCSU students.

RALEIGH, North Carolina (WTVD) -- Two N.C. State students were sexually assaulted by a clerk at a popular pizza restaurant on Hillsborough Street according to Raleigh Police.

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The 18- and 19-year-old freshmen told Raleigh police they were in Gumby's Pizza on Thursday when a clerk kissed one of them and put his arm around the other, pulled her toward him and attempted to kiss her.

One of the victims says Aurelio Discala also grabbed her arm and forced her to touch his groin.

Aurelio Discala
Raleigh Police Department

Discala, 36, is charged with assault on a female and sexual battery.

"That's scary. I shouldn't have to worry about someone like that when I'm just going to get food," NCSU junior Allison Womack told ABC11.

Womack, who says she eats at Gumby's, was glad to hear that Discala was fired.

Gumby's manager Joe O'Brien said he took action as soon as he found out what had happened.

"It's unacceptable. He was fired immediately. We're in the process of getting him trespassed from the property. We don't condone this type of behavior in any way," O'Brien said Friday.

O'Brien said he felt bad for the victims. "It's kind of a shock to all of us but it doesn't really matter. That's unacceptable. That doesn't happen at Gumby's Pizza. And it's not going to happen on N.C. State campus."

Womack wondered aloud if this was the first time the suspect did something like this.

"It kind of scares me that like, there may have been other instances where people just haven't reported it, you know? May have been too scared to," Womack said.

She said if there are other victims, she hopes they will come forward.

Discala, of Carrboro, posted his $10,000 bond Friday morning and is out of jail.

He's due in court to face the charges next month.