Jury Finds ‘Biggest Loser’ Trainer Guilty of Beating Girlfriend’s 6-Year-Old Son with Belt

Badalamenti convicted of assault and weapons charges; faces 7 years in prison

MINEOLA, NY - Nassau County District Attorney Kathleen Rice announced today that Anthony Badalamenti, a trainer on NBC’s reality weight-loss series, “The Biggest Loser,” has been convicted on assault and weapons charges for beating his girlfriend’s 6-year-old son multiple times with a belt.

It took a jury less than a day to convict Badalamenti, 31, of Glen Cove, of three counts of Assault in the Second Degree, two misdemeanor counts of Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Fourth Degree, and Endangering the Welfare of a Child. He faces up to seven years in prison at his August 6 sentencing.

Rice said that on October 31, 2008, Badalamenti’s landlord called 911 after hearing Jessica Muniz’s six-year-old son’s cries for help and what the landlord said sounded like whipping noises. Muniz is Badalamenti’s girlfriend and the three shared an apartment in a Merrick home. Police responded and found the boy with lacerations and severe bruising on his legs and buttocks, requiring hospitalization. Muniz faces identical charges and is awaiting trial.

“Mr. Badalamenti cowardly and violently beat a defenseless child and for that he should be behind bars for as long as the law allows,” said Rice.“We must stand up for the most vulnerable among us and I am proud to stand up and protect this brave six-year-old against a thug who deserves every minute of what will hopefully be a lengthy prison sentence.”

Handling the case for the District Attorney's Office is Assistant District Attorney Silvia Finkelstein of the Special Victims Bureau. The defendant is represented by Oscar Michelen, Esq.