Wedding caterer arrested for violating sex offender law
»Play Video
PORTLAND, Ore. - A local man who generated complaints for his work at weddings was arrested Monday and is now in jail.
Last week the KATU Problem Solvers reported that local couples said Troy Meza and his partner promised to cater and DJ their weddings, but instead, the weddings turned into disasters. One bride had to order pizza to feed guests.
Meza's arrest Monday came from his history as a predatory sex offender. KATU News found out he was not at his registered address in Aumsville as required by law.
Meza has a history of sexually abusing teenage girls between the ages of 13 and 15.
Meza refused to comment to KATU News on Monday.
Lindsey Petrushkin hired Meza, who runs the Unique Catering and Pacific Northwest Events in Portland, for her wedding reception. Meza's company was supposed to serve 200 guests. But the food the company purchased was in bulk from a grocery store that the catering company charred and blackened.
"They burned the side of my parents' building," Petrushkin told KATU News last week.
Petrushkin said her sister went to various pizza places in town and picked up somewhere between 15 and 20 pizzas to feed her hungry guests.
As a former employee I worked 7 months for this company and I was always impressed by the great work that was done by the owner and the rest of my coworkers. For the most part all brides and grooms were very happy with there events, and I was at about 7 of those wedding as wait staff At this particular wedding the bride Lindsey and the groom dusty along with the father of the bride Dan and the mother of the bride Beth had a large wedding in fact it was a day and a half event for us because the bride had wanted tables and chairs delivered by evening the day before the wedding. this was a courtesy on the part of the company. While onsite we arrived around 10 am and started setting up the tables and chairs, along with the cooking equipment, when we started plugging in the electrical equipment it was discovered that there were already two large refrigerators the kind you would find in a convenience store . and a 40 foot rv all pulling power from the same power plug in, this caused the electricity to keep going on and off and when our boss asked the brides father Dan to help to find another source of power my boss was told no and that it would have to work, so when we were preparing the food and try to cook the chicken and the prime rib it was hard to do so with the electricity not staying on. The chicken was ready to be served at dinner time but the prime rib was not yet at a safe temp to serve yet and we didn't want to make anyone sick. My boss and other co workers worked very hard to get the rest of the meal ready to serve and there were many announcements made by the D.J on the mic that dinner was running a lil behind due to tech issues. The worst part was when the brides mom Beth had told a coworker that the food was to be served all at the same time when she could have let us serve the chicken ,rice, veggies, and bread that way people wouldn't have to wait to eat instead Beth demanded we wait till the prime rib was cooked and this is what took so long for dinner to be served. And to make matters worse this family allowed there guests verbally attack us workers who were doing our best to fix a problem that could have been averted
I was interviewed by KATU on camera along with my husband.  I know of at least two other couples that had been interviewed by KATU in an effort to gather information to populate the story.  I assure you that we're not Bridezillas and we are victims of a true scam.  The two responsible, Troy Meza and Marisela Hernandez, offered customer referrals.  I checked 3 of them and they were sparkling.  I also met with them multiple times and had two professional taste tests at The Kitchen Crue.  I met with them at a bridal show, met their staff and had no issues with them until a couple weeks before our wedding.  I thought I'd covered all my bases.  They'd advertised multiple times on LivingSocial as well and one would assume that LivingSocial would have checked them out before promoting their business.
@SR PDX Rain and wind is a total scam who has a outdoor wedding in June in the northwest without any protection from the weather?
If everything is perfect on the womans big day,she gets her panties all in a bunch and starts to blame others.
They Bride and Groom are to be blamed for not doing enoui=gh research and making that day a little better,but still these stupid brides would then blame th aphotgrapher for ruining her so-called big day.
I'm just a little curious to where the fact checking is on this story? They apparently ran this story based on a single bride's testimony (the husband wasn't even there as he clearly is looking to bail), the pictures they showed when saying there was a lack of food just show people at a table which could have been taken at anytime. Then there was this burned building but where are the pictures of that? Then would someone explain to me why these people went out and had to search for food? I mean are they living in a forest? Why would someone have to go to multiple pizza places to buy 15-20 pizzas? Also they say "weddings" yet they have only one bride's account of one wedding? Where is the background work on this story?
Also, now I am not backing a RSO, but um, how was the media allowed to be inside a detainment room and actually ask questions? Strange stuff here in my book. Sounds like a low ratings media source needs attention...
 @Huggiebear10 I could not have said this better. And Hondo...you have no idea what happened at that wedding. Just because they are popular radio hosts does not make them honest and above exaggeration. Maybe, they just don't want to pay? Hmmm...who knows.Â
 @Huggiebear10 I could not have said this better. Thank you
 @Huggiebear10 First, this story is about how Mr. Meza violated the terms of his release by not providing an accurate address in his sex offender registry, or by not residing at the address he gave. In other words, this is a spinoff or a follow-up to the story you are talking about. Second, the bride did not testify. She was not under oath, at least I did not understand her to be. Third, the groom at the wedding is a host of a local popular sports radio talk show. A lot of the people at the wedding are local sports radio personalities. The story has been confirmed on the radio by folks who were there at the wedding.Fourth, the video shows an employee of the catering company at a grill with a huge fire going. I learned through the radio personalities that the caterer had thrown a beef brisket on a hot grill. Naturally, the fat in the brisket (of which there is quite a bit; that is why that cut is so yummy, but also why it is generally cooked low and slow) caused huge flare ups. Fifth, and finally, if you go to one pizza place and order 20 pizzas, it is going to take a LOT MORE TIME to fill that order than if you went to 4 different places and ordered 5 pizzas. If you want 20 pizzas fast, and you have not preordered, you are best off if you go to a few different places.   Â
@Hondo @Huggiebear10 There was no setup and they ruined the food. These were wanna-be's cooking. No, you do not grill brisket. Just a scam artist, lying sex offender that did not live at the residence he claimed. Felt sorry for the folks that lost money and had heartache over what should have been an incredibly memorable and joyous occaision. Thier friends and family left hungry waiting for a meal that was not edible. Meza took the money and ruined a special moment in life. He stinks!!
Â
@Brownknight flippin dolphin 5 pts As a former employee I worked 7 months for this company and I was always impressed by the great work that was done by the owner and the rest of my coworkers. For the most part all brides and grooms were very happy with there events, and I was at about 7 of those wedding as wait staff At this particular wedding the bride Lindsey and the groom dusty along with the father of the bride Dan and the mother of the bride Beth had a large wedding in fact it was a day and a half event for us because the bride had wanted tables and chairs delivered by evening the day before the wedding. this was a courtesy on the part of the company. While onsite we arrived around 10 am and started setting up the tables and chairs, along with the cooking equipment, when we started plugging in the electrical equipment it was discovered that there were already two large refrigerators the kind you would find in a convenience store . and a 40 foot rv all pulling power from the same power plug in, this caused the electricity to keep going on and off and when our boss asked the brides father Dan to help to find another source of power my boss was told no and that it would have to work, so when we were preparing the food and try to cook the chicken and the prime rib it was hard to do so with the electricity not staying on. The chicken was ready to be served at dinner time but the prime rib was not yet at a safe temp to serve yet and we didn't want to make anyone sick. My boss and other co workers worked very hard to get the rest of the meal ready to serve and there were many announcements made by the D.J on the mic that dinner was running a lil behind due to tech issues. The worst part was when the brides mom Beth had told a coworker that the food was to be served all at the same time when she could have let us serve the chicken ,rice, veggies, and bread that way people wouldn't have to wait to eat instead Beth demanded we wait till the prime rib was cooked and this is what took so long for dinner to be served. And to make matters worse this family allowed there guests verbally attack us workers who were doing our best to fix a problem that could have been averted
BRIDEZILLA!
 @August100 Not a bridezilla only bride that would go on tv.  I was at that wedding and yes the ceremony was great.  But the reception was from hell!
Just the tip of the iceburg...imagine what the other sex predators are doing. Maybe they are your kids babysitter, or work at the grocery store, or the family photo place. They could be anywhere and everywhere!
 @portlandborn83 The state Psycho-Wackos say their "TREATMENT" programs are "EVIDENCE BASED"......Would they lie to taxpayers from their MILLION DOLAR WEST HILLS MANSIONS?
 @August100  @portlandborn83 'MILLION DOLAR' LOL
 @portlandborn83 Everywhere, really??? You're sounding a bit paranoid.
LOL - I like the '#13' on his shirt. A bit of bad luck going there for ya, Meza?
The man was a sex offender,and it sounds like he has spent time in prison. I have said it before,they should have to register before they get let out. That should then be shared with every state,and a picture,so that if a person runs its on record.If they refuse to register before they get out,then they lose the right to  get out.These people know that once they get out,they are probably not going to be checked on as much as they should be.
@Jennifer Hamlet He was registered, it says so in the story. He just didn't live where he said he did on the registration. That shows how useless registering anyone is.
One word: KARMA
 @pdxd "Karma" is nothing more than a concept people believe in because it makes them feel better to "know" that the bad will be punished. For all we know, nothing like that will happen.
Will hopefully "the wedding reception from hell" will become a story they laugh about for years to come! I guess it really does pay to check not only backgrounds of outfits that you want to hire, but solicit customer comments from others. I have no problem with sex offenders going into business for themselves and having jobs, it's better than being on the dole. But this guy was clearly in violation of his probation.
Again... proof that life gives the lesson first.
And the test later...
Good luck on Your test...
Prison needs caterers, too.
I don't suppose there's a chance in hell for a refund for the wedding.. What dirt bag..
I was wondering if they'd bag him when the father reported he wasn't living at the registered address anymore. Nice to see a bit of karma sneaking in.
This comment has been deleted
 @swimbad catering to the buzzards? Ha! How fitting.