Waiter plays Arabic chant at Jewish wedding

Stephen Buttafuoco has pleaded not guilty to felony harassment

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updated 6:59 p.m. ET Jan. 11, 2009

WOODBURY, New York - A waiter who shocked guests at a Jewish wedding by playing a recording of a crowd chanting in Arabic has pleaded not guilty to felony harassment.

Stephen Buttafuoco, 23, said he was playing the recording for a co-worker and was unaware it was being amplified over a sound system at the Woodbury Jewish Center during the Jan. 4 wedding, his lawyer Tom Spreer said.

Investigators said he made the recording when he attended a rally opposing the Israeli offensive in Gaza, during which protesters chanted, "Allah Akbar," or "God is great."

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Buttafuoco was arrested Friday and arraigned Saturday. He was scheduled to be released on $1,500 bail, his lawyer said.

Spreer said Buttafuoco's father is a former Marine and pastor of a church, and the family wished "to apologize to everyone who attended the wedding."

Police initially said Buttafuoco also had been charged with disrupting a religious service. Spreer said that charge was not introduced at his arraignment. Newsday reported a grand jury would consider whether to bring the charge.

Police said the defendant is not related to Joey Buttafuoco, whose 17-year-old lover Amy Fisher shot his wife in the face more than a decade ago.