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Billings restaurant owner pleads not guilty to sexual assault

Billings restaurant owner pleads not guilty to sexual assault
Posted at 11:44 AM, Oct 08, 2020
and last updated 2020-10-08 13:44:31-04

A Billings restaurant owner charged with sexual assault of two female employees entered not guilty pleas in Yellowstone County District Court on Wednesday.

Chien "Howard" Hwa Shen, 48, made his initial appearance and was released on his own recognizance.

The Yellowstone County Attorney's Office charged Shen with one felony count of sexual intercourse without consent and two misdemeanor counts of sexual assault.

Shen is the part owner of the Carne Brazilian grill, Wild Ginger Japanese Steakhouse and the Asian Sea Grill.

Court documents state a 28-year-old woman and a 34-year-old woman at Carne both claimed Shen sexually assaulted them in different incidents.

The order issued states that Shen shall have no contact with the two women, who no longer work at his restaurants.

He also may not go into places where alcoholic beverages are the primary product for sale, but he may be in presence of alcohol at his businesses.

Shen was also ordered to forfeit his passport to the clerk of court by 5 p.m.