Comedian Nathan Fielder told Jimmy Kimmel this week that he could face six months behind bars for his Dumb Starbucks stunt in Los Feliz.

See also: Dumb Starbucks Shut Down by L.A. Health Officials

The parody coffee shop, erected for the Comedy Central show Nathan For You, was shut down by the L.A. County Department of Public Health on Monday for serving food without a health permit.

“The penalty is up to six months in jail,” he told Kimmel, “so we're trying to be very nice to them.”
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But, like a lot of information surrounding Dumb Starbucks – which remained a mystery through the weekend, with some folks guessing that it was some kind of anti-corporate art installation – that claim was thin on facts.


Kimmel continued the folly by saying, “I'll put in a good word with the mayor for you.”

See also: Dumb Starbucks is a Comedy Central Show Backdrop

L.A.'s mayor has no jurisdiction over what the county health department or the District Attorney's office do.

In the case of operating a phony coffee shop without a health permit, the punishment is being closed down and staying closed, the Department of Public Health told us.

In extreme cases the department can take a case to the District Attorney's office for recommended prosecution, but for the most part first-time offenses can be remedied by negotiation – in this case closure – – and fines, the department says.

See also: Inside Dumb Starbucks in Los Feliz

Credit: Ted Soqui for LA Weekly

Credit: Ted Soqui for LA Weekly

On Tuesday the department had a hearing with the folks behind Dumb Starbucks and came to the agreement that Dumb was done, we were told.

Amen.

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