Man charged with slapping toddler fired, more details emerge
We didn’t get a chance to talk about this story last Friday but I thought we should. New details are emerging about the man accused of slapping a toddler on a Delta flight and the incident itself. (This story is from late Sunday. I will update on Monday.) So check it out and let me know what you think.
“MINNEAPOLIS — A man charged with slapping a toddler on a Minneapolis-to-Atlanta flight is out of a job, his former employer said Sunday.
“Joe Rickey Hundley, 60, of Hayden, Idaho, is no longer an employee of AGC Aerospace and Defense, Composites Group, Daniel Keeney of DPK Public Relations confirmed Sunday night.
“Al Haase, president and CEO of AGC, issued a statement early Sunday that, while not referring to Hundley by name, called reports of behavior by one of its executives on recent personal travel “offensive and disturbing” and said he “is no longer employed with the company.” Keeney would not say whether Hundley was fired or resigned. Hundley was president of AGC’s Unitech Composites and Structures unit.
“Hundley was charged last week in federal court in Atlanta with simple assault for allegedly slapping the 2-year-old boy during the Feb. 8 flight. His attorney, Marcia Shein, of Decatur, Ga., said Saturday that Hundley will plead not guilty. The charge carries a maximum penalty of a year in jail.
“Shein did not immediately returned messages seeking comment left Sunday evening by The Associated Press. Hundley does not have a listed phone number.
“The boy’s mother, Jessica Bennett, 33, told the FBI their flight was on final descent into Atlanta when her 19-month-old son started to cry due to the altitude change. Hundley “told her to shut that (N-word) baby up,” FBI special agent Daron Cheney said in a sworn statement. She said Hundley then slapped him in the face, scratching the boy below his right eye and causing him to scream even louder.
“Bennett told Twin Cities television stations on Saturday that the incident has caused her family a great deal of trauma and that her son, Jonah, had been outgoing but had turned apprehensive of strangers.
“Hundley became increasingly obnoxious and appeared intoxicated during the flight and complained that her son was too big to sit on her lap, she said.
“He reeked of alcohol,” Bennett told KARE-TV. “He was belligerent, and I was uncomfortable.”
“Bennett said she was shocked by the racial slur she says Hundley used when Jonah started crying.
“And I said, ‘What did you say?’ because I couldn’t believe that he would say that,” she told WCCO-TV. “He fell onto my face and his mouth was in my ear and he said it again but even more hateful. And he’s on my face, so I pushed him away.”
“Bennett and her husband are white, while Jonah, whom they adopted, is black.
“We wish to emphasize that the behavior that has been described is contradictory to our values, embarrassing and does not in any way reflect the patriotic character of the men and women of diverse backgrounds who work tirelessly in our business,” Haase said in his statement.”
Do you believe the mother’s version of the story? Do you think it would ever be appropriate to hit/slap another person’s child? Do you think slapping another person’s child is worth a year in jail? Do you think the man should be fired from his job before convicted? What about if convicted? What would you do if someone slapped your child?
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81 comments Add your comment
jmb
February 18th, 2013
1:34 pm
Screechy GMA host (lol). I was just thinking this morning how much fun they have laughing at theirselves.
DB
February 18th, 2013
1:52 pm
There has to be more to his firing than this incident — perhaps he had been warned about alcohol abuse, etc. in the past. Granted, I would not be proud to have this man working for me. I wonder if had some backlash from clients who called and basically said “WTF kind of shop are you running there?” Still, the guy is now unemployed and a social pariah. I guess he can sink lower — but there’s not too much lower than assaulting a crying baby.
Hooty Goot
February 18th, 2013
2:08 pm
If she’s lying somebody’s gonna get sued. If he’s lying somebody’s gonna get sued. SOMEBODY’S gonna get sued !
LS
February 18th, 2013
2:23 pm
I’m sure everyone in the row was uncomfortable as the 19 month old child had no seat and was on the mother’s lap. No airline wants to be the first to require a purchased seat for all babies, and possibly appear to have uncompetitive prices. The babies would be so much more comfortable in a car seat in their own airline seat, and less likely to bother the other passengers.
LS
February 18th, 2013
2:25 pm
The mother is being overly dramatic and losing credibility by saying the child is now traumatized and afraid of strangers. It’s only been a few days, how does she know has suffered such harm? She is just positioning herself to file a civil lawsuit to collect money from the guy.
Logical Dad
February 18th, 2013
2:31 pm
Amazing. I’ve often thought that, along with “birthers” and truthers,” there are “beaters” – those that think our societies ills would be cured if only children were beaten (or, as they like to call it, “spanked” – that’s so cute) more often. I mistakenly thought that if there were one story that could unite everyone that that this violent, “beating” mentality was wrong – it was this one. I see, sadly, that I was wrong. *sigh*
Me
February 18th, 2013
2:58 pm
I’m not convinced that alcohol played the role that many seem to think. This guy has a history of this behavior and a conviction for a similar incident in 2007. Some people are just rude and are, by nature, buttholes. I’ve seen plenty of people on flights, etc. that drank too much and still didn’t strike a child.
Parent
February 18th, 2013
3:45 pm
“there are “beaters” – those that think our societies ills would be cured if only children were beaten (or, as they like to call it, “spanked” – that’s so cute) more often.”
We prefer to call ourselves “disciplinarians”. We don’t take off our belt at the slightest infraction. We start out with a stern word. Then maybe “time-out” (or my mother used to stand us in the corner). Then perhaps the loss of privileges. Only after repeated attempts at lesser discipline do we break out the sterner discipline. And guess what – our children behave! You may say it is because they fear us – you may be right. Just as they should fear the law of society. If they break those laws, they are subject to punishment – the same way we taught them. So hopefully when they are tempted to break the law, they will think and remember how they were taught – violation of the rules results in discipline (punishment), sometimes severe. At least I did not have children who do what they want in restaurants and terrorize the other customers and all I would say is: “I can’t control them”.
USC
February 18th, 2013
3:46 pm
Obviously a terrible event. I applaud AGC Aerospace and Defense, Composites Group for unloading this drunken bully immediately. They did not hesitate and probably knew this fellow for what he is. Obviously, anyone, even the parents, striking a 2 year on the head could be fatal. Many babies cry with altitude change because of inability to equalize air pressure throught the Eustacian tube, which can cause severe pain. Any stranger striking another’s child should be cuffed, read his rights, and jailed. Charge: Assault. Punishment: Incarceration 5-10 years.
HB
February 18th, 2013
3:48 pm
Would it ever be ok to slap another person’s child? What an incredibly stupid question. Would it ever be okay to slap an adult? If not to defend oneself, I’m pretty sure that could result in assault charges. Why would it be more acceptable to slap a child in the face?
Parent
February 18th, 2013
4:14 pm
“Do you think it would ever be appropriate to hit/slap another person’s child?”
The only circumstance I could imagine is if that child were treatening someone else with serious bodily harm. Such as pointing a gun at another child (yours, maybe). Or trying to push another child off a cliff. Extreme type examples, but unfortunately, not beyond imagination. How about the teenager who just shot the other teenager about a month ago?
Parent
February 18th, 2013
4:17 pm
“Amazing. I’ve often thought that, along with “birthers” and truthers,” there are “beaters”
So I guess you just categorized my mother in that category, since she spanked us children (THANK YOU, MOTHER). I am so glad that my mother cared enough about me and society in general to spank us. Now what about those mothers who allow their children to curse their teachers and tell them to F*ck off.
Maude
February 18th, 2013
4:19 pm
Why is it the mother’s word against the man’s? Did the other passengers see what was happening?? I can’t believe that there was no mention in the story about other passengers. There are crazy people in this world. People lie all the time who is telling the truth this time should be clear with the help of people sitting near by.
catlady
February 18th, 2013
4:24 pm
Where does simple battery get a year in jail? Around here, it gets a handshake and a “do better next time?”
MomsRule
February 18th, 2013
4:26 pm
@Parent, while I’m not trying to engage you in a p!ss!ng match over parenting styles, I’d like to say that my children are incredibly well behaved and have never been slapped, pinched, spanked, etc.
So, well behaved that we received praise on numerous occasions when they were young from complete strangers. The ugly looks when we walked into high end restaurants with a 2 year old often turned to smiles and a hand shake by the end of the meal.
It is possible to discipline and teach children without resorting to striking or inflicting physical pain of any kind.
Were they always perfect? Of course not, they were removed and disciplined several times from situations when their behavior was unacceptable. They learned. Without being hit.
Logical Dad
February 18th, 2013
4:35 pm
Careful there MomsRule. You are risking the wrath of “Parent” and other superior intellects. They are “beaters,” through and through. Violence is always their answer, despite their false claims to the contrary. They always pull the “my mother / father did it and I turned out fine,” or “the Bible says….” meme. Makes them feel better about their mental health problems. (I raise my eyebrow at “Parent”’s claim to have implemented a progressive discipline method as well.)
Parent
February 18th, 2013
4:38 pm
” I’d like to say that my children are incredibly well behaved and have never been slapped, pinched, spanked, etc.”
Good for you. Maybe you were as lucky with your kids’ discipline as apparently (according to other posters) I have been with my son and air travel.
Parent
February 18th, 2013
4:47 pm
“(I raise my eyebrow at “Parent”’s claim to have implemented a progressive discipline method as well.)”
Logical Dad – you know absolutely nothing about me or my mother. In my entire life of raising one son and three step-children, I spanked exactly one time – when it was absolutely necessary. I took away computer privileges often, Time out a lot. Same with my mother – I can count the number of times she spanked me on one hand. She gave licks with one hand, and if we were really bad, we had to go cut our own “switch”. She stood me in the corner a LOT. But, yes, I turned out FINE – more than fine, a gentleman who holds open doors for strangers because that was the way I was “brung up”. I don’t “beat” kids and I don’t condone strangers slapping kids on airplanes. I DO defend the mother who slaps (apparently it was not a hard enough slap to leave a mark) her child that mouths off to her in the grocery store. Yes, she probably should have just taken him outside and given him some hand on the bottom, instead, but I believe her method was at least EFFECTIVE. I doubt that the child mothed off again (unless he was just proud that he got his mother arrested).
BB
February 18th, 2013
4:51 pm
That dude should have just invested in some noise-canceling headphones … Bose QuietComfort 15s and he would have heard nothing!!!
Logical Dad
February 18th, 2013
4:54 pm
@Parent: Look sport, you defend hitting children. I do not expect to have a rational discussion with you or people like you. Just continue defending this behavior and know that I (and, I assume, several million others) will pray for your victms.
Georgia
February 18th, 2013
5:24 pm
How much did the baby have to drink? Did the mother even at least try to burp the baby? Did the crying occur during the in-flight movie? There’s an unconfirmed report that the baby tried to light it’s Pampers shortly after take off. The baby also apparently tried to smuggle a metallic transformer toy on the plane but was foiled by the air marshal at the last minute. I don’t trust no babies no how. Had I been the air marshal on that flight, the baby would have been in handcuffs and gagged with one of those Hannibal Lecter face harnesses. I wouldn’t take no chances with no juvenile delinquents of any age. The air-traveling public deserves to be protected against all baby trouble-makers. Safety first.
Ace
February 18th, 2013
5:27 pm
Sounds like a hate crime.
Parent
February 18th, 2013
5:52 pm
“@Parent: Look sport, you defend hitting children.”
I apologize, I was wrong when I said I only hit my son once. I undoubtedly slapped his hands lightly when he reached for a hot stove eye. But that is “violence”, I know, so he is probably scarred for life. I should have used “positive” feedback and given him a sucker every time he did not reach for the stove. Or I could have used the “natural consequences” that psychologists recommend and let him touch it. Sorry, son, you only have three fingers now, but at least I never HIT you.
Quira
February 18th, 2013
7:03 pm
I have sat next to screaming children on long flights and it’s pretty miserable. At least twice that screaming child has been my own. In no case is slapping the child acceptable. Heck, when the cabin pressure changes after a long flight I feel like crying too.
The man should have known better and he has likely forfeited his right to lead. Whether he is technically guilty or not, I don’t know that he is still qualified to lead a company. Not one that I owned.
As for a year in jail. I would want to hear the facts. That is one reason we don’t make judgement about talking away someone’s freedom without a trial by a jury of his peers.
Toni Leatherwood
February 18th, 2013
10:13 pm
I believe he got what he deserved. If it were me he wouldn’t have been standing. I would protect my child. Yes I believe the mother. I say a year is not enough. He attacked that child,or baby is what I say. They should stop selling liquor on all flights.
Bernie
February 18th, 2013
11:01 pm
Lets pretend if the Man who slapped the toddler was Black and the Baby was white? Surely the outcome and the comments here would be far different.
Bernie
February 18th, 2013
11:04 pm
Toni Leatherwood @ 10:13 pm – iam in agreement with you about the issue of selling Alcohol on ALL
Flights. There have just been far too many incidents of assault as a result. The Airline is just as responsible for the cause and result of this attack.
motherjanegoose
February 19th, 2013
7:30 am
I cannot imagine slapping someone else’s child. I have felt like slapping a child’s parents sometimes but never acted on it.
MomsRule
February 19th, 2013
8:34 am
@Logical Dad ..”wrath” – haha!
@Parent… “Luck” had nothing to do with it. We have friends that for years now have said “you are so lucky you have easy kids.” Easy kids? Yes, they just fell out of my uterus knowing how to behave. Drives me nuts. They weren’t “easy” and we weren’t “lucky.”
We worked our tails off when they were little teaching and guiding. While our friends were lazy, made excuses, ignored and screamed out empty threats. Oh, they also slapped and spanked.
Now, at 17 and 13, mine are indeed super easy and earlier mentioned friends still struggle with their kids who are now 16 and 12.
motherjanegoose
February 19th, 2013
4:03 pm
@ Momsrule…friends are starting to say how lucky my son is now that he has signed a contract to be a Pharmacist, with a nice salary. LUCKY? UM NO…he has worked his tail off and IMHO deserves every penny. When he was working at the same company ( age 16) his HS friends were out goofing around. Now, he is reaping the rewards while some (his age) have jobs that are not optimal.
Yes, you can have a big role in whether or not your kids are good and/or easy. Kudos to you for having great kids!
MomsRule
February 20th, 2013
8:40 am
@MJG, your son deserves everything he has earned. And you should be very proud! I know you are! :)
Interesting how “luck” seems to fall upon those that actually work hard and apply effort! Funny how that happens!