Man gets eight months in prison for slapping toddler on plane

[joeybee12]

ATLANTA — A former aerospace executive who slapped a crying toddler on an airplane and used a racial slur against the child, who is black, received an eight-month prison sentence on Monday for an incident his attorney blamed on his alcoholism.

Joe Rickey Hundley, who apologized in court to the child's mother, was accused of striking the 19-month-old boy in the face on board a Delta Air Lines flight from Minneapolis to Atlanta last February.

Hundley pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor assault charge in October. Prosecutors had sought a six-month prison sentence, but the federal judge opted for a stiffer punishment.

"I'm very sorry," Hundley told the child's mother during the court hearing in Atlanta. "I made the most terrible day in my life much worse for myself and others."

http://usnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2014/01/06/22203402-man-gets-eight-months-in-prison-for-slapping-toddler-on-plane?lite

[malaise]

1. Good

Fugg him.

[CatWoman]

59. you should see some of the comments in yesterday's AJC

the bigots were out in force: http://www.ajc.com/ap/ap/georgia/man-in-toddler-slapping-plane-case-to-be-sentenced/nccyf/?icmp=ajc_internallink_textlink_homepage

they basically blamed the mother AND the kid.

go figure....

[malaise]

60. Why am I not surprised

It's open season on non-white people.
Thanks for the link

[JustAnotherGen]

2. Good

An adult slapping a toddler? He's lucky he didn't kill that little boy.

[Kelvin Mace]

3. He's lucky

that other passengers didn't "slap" him.

[freshwest]

9. Likely gave the kid whiplash and trauma. To be struck by an absolute stranger? Jail the abuser. n/t

[JustAnotherGen]

12. freshwest

If that had been my child? I would have stabbed him in the neck with something. Even the heel of my shoe I could have made 'work'. But I see red when angry or physically threatened.

[freshwest]

19. Yeah, I would have been on the man before the blow, because I never trusted *anyone* near my child.

But people do expect some security on an airplane. It's not a saloon.

I don't buy this guy's defense of alcoholism, he's a pig. I'm glad the judge saw through him and gave him 8 months. Maybe he'll learn a few things while he's deprived of his power in the world.

And I really could care less about this guy, don't want to hear excuses. You just don't *do* what he did.

End of story!

[Catherine Vincent]

41. Amen!

[JustAnotherGen]

52. You are correct

No excuses!

[Vattel]

31. If that had been your child you would have stabbed him in the neck with something?

Since he is just a toddler, that seems a little harsh.

[JustAnotherGen]

51. Ahhhh

Ssssspppppllllll!

No! The asshole would have been stabbed!

[Vattel]

56. OHHHHHHH. Nevermind.

[uppityperson]

66. Sometimes a simple slap isn't enough?

at your reading that post that way

[JustAnotherGen]

86. I know

But that poster gave me a good warm belly laugh last night!


And that's when I love DU -when we can find a little laughter.

[redqueen]

14. +1

[freshwest]

20. You know the kid's gotta be asking: 'Why me? Why did he pick me to hit? Why am I not allowed to be?'

[Warren DeMontague]

26. There have been a few stories like that in recent years.

A lot of rage-drunk, crazy people running around, too wrapped up in their own personal narrative and bullshit to realize they share the planet with people who exist outside of their own heads.

http://abcnews.go.com/US/georgia-man-slaps-crying-child-wal-mart-hits/story?id=8492316

[Gormy Cuss]

4. What, no plea bargain for community service? I'm shocked.

Good on the judge.

eta: his personal life stress and alcohol may have fueled the action but the racism was there regardless.

[Glassunion]

5. I guess he was not wealthy enough to claim Affluenza.

[uponit7771]

6. Racist bastard, should get more... it was a hate crime

[MineralMan]

7. Good. I'm glad to hear it. I remember the original story.

[alsame]

8. ...

[dem in texas]

10. Long flight with crying child - Awful

I was on a flight from Hong Kong to L.A. with a woman and 3 or 4 year old child who shrieked and cried the entire time. I was on the other side of the plane and it was terrible. I felt sorry for the people sitting close to the woman. People tried to help her, but with the language barrier, no one could get anywhere with her, she refused to be helped. Even the flight attendants could not reason with her.

[redqueen]

13. "she refused to be helped"? "Even the flight attendants could not reason with her."

Interesting

[unblock]

16. dude, learn to filter out background noise.

it's a valuable skill, it will greatly lower your stress levels.

oh, and what exactly are you suggesting the mother could have done that she didn't try already?
do you know the kid wasn't autistic? claustrophobic? freaking out at all the unwanted attention from strangers?

[OnlinePoker]

30. My brother had a serious issue on an airplane in 1968

It was his first time flying and his ears would not pop no matter what was tried. He was in excrutiating agony for what was then a 6 hour flight across Canada and he cried most of the way. It was so bad that for the return trip, my mother opted to take a 4 day bus ride rather than subject him to that pain again. His hearing was permanently damaged by that experience. As for "background noise", there is little you can do to filter out a crying or screaming infant.

[freshwest]

62. The solution is air plane pressure ear plugs. You won't hear anything but your heart beat. I had the

same experience your brother did but an airline attendant realized what was happening to me. See my reply below for what she did:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/10024288275#post61

I am sorry he suffered hearing loss.

[OnlinePoker]

71. I don't know if they had such a thing in 1968. n/t

[freshwest]

73. Sure they had the cups, but maybe not the ear plugs. That's a more recent invention. n/t

[tenderfoot]

81. I hear chewing gum is good for releasing pressure.

I have not tried this myself but I hear that it works.

[freshwest]

82. I've heard that works in high ground elevations, too. n/t

[pipi_k]

35. Don't know if you know this, but

some people can't filter out background noise, and all the learning how to do it won't do a damned bit of good. It's an actual neurological problem. It's called "Sensory Processing/Integration Disorder" and it sucks.



That, however, doesn't excuse the fact that he hit the kid.

If he has a real problem with sensory overload (as I do) he should carry earplugs around (I do).

[kcr]

48. I suspect I have this problem. I wear out the mute button on every remote control.

And you're right, it's no excuse. And those of us with this problem just need to learn how to deal. That's the reality of it. Earplugs and headphones are our friends.

[pipi_k]

89. There are some good books

on the subject.

My therapist let me read one of hers a few months ago, and I wish I could remember the name/author.

Anyway, I had been wondering for years if maybe I had an autism spectrum disorder, and she said I didn't. Then I told her about SPD (which I hadn't know about before someone here at DU mentioned it) and when I read the book, I felt so much better because at least there was an actual NAME for what I was experiencing and I wasn't just being an asshole about things.

If you suspect you have this, look for some books on the subject and see if any of it matches your experiences.

[unblock]

58. well aware, my niece has this.

but she understands this is her issue and she takes steps to manage and cope rather than complaining about the background noise, especially from a toddler who is clearly far less capable of adapting.

[pipi_k]

87. Actually...

Your post said this:

dude, learn to filter out background noise.

it's a valuable skill, it will greatly lower your stress levels.

Someone with a real problem can't filter it out. They can't learn to filter it out. It's not a skill someone can master.

Now, if you want to change that to, "Dude, carry earplugs if you can't stand background noise", I'm OK with that.

[unblock]

91. ok:

dude, learn to filter out background noise if you're capable or doing so, or carry earplugs, or learn zen or meditation, or in any event stop asking toddlers to solve your problems.

does that work?

[aroach]

64. My son has SPD

He can't even filter out the buzzing of fluorescent lights -- something that I can't even hear when I try to. And we have had to leave stores not because he is crying but because he cannot cope with the sound of other people's crying babies or children even though he is a child himself.

[pipi_k]

88. OMG...

the fluorescent lights!

I hate them, and yes, I can hear the buzzing.

Sometimes I can even feel the buzzing on my skin. And I could "see" the flickering (very rapid, but enough to cause distress).

And back when we had the big console TV sets...even if the sound was off on the TV, if someone else had the stereo playing at the same time, it would drive me crazy. One or the other!!! I can't do both.

Dealing with sensory input from multiple sources is like being physically assaulted.

When that happens and I can't control it, I pull inward and shut down.

Best time of day around here is our regular "siesta" after lunch. TV goes off and there's silence for about two hours. And the best ever time is when we lose power. Then there's absolutely NO background noise whatsoever (like from the furnace or the fridge or whatever).

anyway, I'm glad you know about your son's issues. Many parents would think that their kids are just being horrible little brats because they can't deal with external stimuli.

[freshwest]

61. Or having unbearable pain due to the changes of air pressure in the ear canal?

Years ago a flight attendant saw me silently suffering with intense ear pain as i had allergies, tears were streaming down my face.

It was one of my first flights and the attendant knew what to do. She went to the kitchen and got two paper cups, put a couple of cotton balls in hot water, and told me to hold them tight on my ears.

She said 'If you don't hold them tight, your eardrums might rupture.' When we got down to sea level she warned me to use anti-histamines before getting on a plane and to use those special ear plugs for air travel to protect my ears.

I use them when things are too loud anywhere. We don't know what was wrong with the child, but I suggest anyone who is flying should invest in those plugs.

[Skittles]

29. invest in some foam earplugs

makes a HUGE difference

[pipi_k]

90. Yep...even if

they don't deaden the noise completely, at least they take the edge off and muffle it.

[Skittles]

94. dip 'em in water and they come damn close to deadening all

take it from someone who lives in an apartment complex and works the night shift

[secondvariety]

38. The plane

in this instance was descending, a couple of minutes till it touched down. The kid's head probably felt like it was going to explode.

[Matariki]

44. I don't think 'reasoning' with a parent will make their child to stop crying

I mean unless the parent was poking the kid, or something

[morningfog]

50. Seriously. I'm at a loss as to what they think could be done.

[tblue37]

79. I am something if a baby/child whisperer. Sometimes on a plane or in a public place I will

see young parents with what is clearly their first child. They are often frantic--overwhelmed, embarrassed, but entirely unable to calm their child. The parents' stress is picked up on by the baby or toddler, so it just fuels their upset.

I always try to help out. First I talk to the parents calmly, saying something like this: "She's just a baby, and sometimes babies cry. It isn't your fault, and sometimes nothing you can do will make a baby stop screaming. As long as you know she is not in physical distress, then just cuddle her and sing to her quietly as you rock her. It might not quiet her--though eventually it might--but don't worry about all the other adults looking at you. You can't do the impossible."

Sometimes the parents will ask me to try to calm the baby. Occasionally I am actually able to, because my experience with babies and young kids seems to give me a soothing effect on babies. On the other hand, being handed to a stranger can make it worse for some babies, so I am always prepared for the possibility that being handed over to me will make things much worse for a few minutes afterward, even though I have returned the baby to her parents.

The major effect of my interference, though, is that I can help the young parents calm *themselves* down, and that almost always helps calm the baby. I think just being told that they don't need to feel embarrassed or guilty if they can't quet their baby on command helps a lot. It also tends to make those who have been glaring at the young family act less judgmental, and that also helps calm the parents and thus, by extension, the little one.

If the parents and child are in a place where removing the screaming child is not an option, it only makes things worse to glare at the parents and child. It won't kill us to hear a stressed out baby or toddler scream for a bit, despite how unpleasant it is. Sometimes just being calm and speaking softly around the baby helps her calm down.

[tenderfoot]

80. Has anyone considered that children may be experiencing Air Pressure Pain?

Because, that's probably what it is.

I could imagine that that would cause a child great discomfort, leading to incessant crying.

[notadmblnd]

11. I've never struck my own child let alone a stranger's

I hope this creep spends the next 8 months of his life thinking about what he's done.

[etherealtruth]

34. Can you imagine ... ?

[LibertyLover]

15. Ten years ago

my husband and I brought our 16 month old daughter home from China. The flight from Beijing to LA was very long, but she was such a good little girl about it. She smiled and giggled and anyone who passed our seats and slept most of the trip. Once, just once, did she cry and that for just a minute or two because I had gone to lavatory. Once I came back and held her, she stopped. But that didn't stop one nasty old man in the seat in front of us from making nasty comments about white people bringing Asian trash to the USA. He got glares from quite a number of people who heard him. As luck would have it, he and his wife were in back of us on the Customs and Immigration line. We stepped up, handed in our paperwork and the agent, when he was finished, congratulated our daughter on being the newest American citizen. She of course didn't understand, but laughed at him anyway. The old geezer in back looked like he wanted to go off on us. I was very glad to get out of there. I am so sorry for this little boy and his mother and hope that the slapper learns something.

[Mr.Bill]

36. Should have told the customs guy your story.

He could have made going through customs quite miserable for that asshole.

[LibertyLover]

68. I never thought of that.

Darn it, you are so right. I wish I had now.

[dickthegrouch]

17. There used to be smoke free zones

I always ask for the Child-free zone on the airplane when I'm checking in.
They usually look at me as if I'd just turned blue.
Airlines could do far more to accommodate their passengers' comfort.

I once spent a miserable half hour on a flight from San Francisco to London after a child threw up on me from the seats behind me during takeoff. I was finally allowed to get out of my seat and wash my shirt in the bathroom. But I was frozen and wet for most of the flight. The mother and attendants were useless in their responses or efforts to assist.

[lindysalsagal]

83. I'd pay extra for a non-baby flight, but no way could the airlines pull that off.

Funny thing is, first class or business class doesn't even guarantee quiet.

[dickthegrouch]

93. I don't think that's the least bit funny

I have experience screeching baby in business from Tokyo to San Francisco. I'd cheerfully have strapped that child and its parents to the wing.

[lindysalsagal]

95. I appreciate your honesty!

Not having ever paid first or business class, I really don't speak from experience when I assume that they would not be any better parents or responsible adults than we in lowly coach. In fact, they miight even be less involved up front.

I was in coach with a mother who had not obviously raised her own 2 kids. She was totally useless. Obviously, they left the nanny home. All did not go well, but at least the kids were old enough to keep it fairly civilized on their own.

[Lizzie Poppet]

18. Awful as shrieking children on a plane can be, that was a horrible thing to do.

You just have to grit your teeth and put up with it, I'm afraid.

[Nay]

21. Good. These entitled special snowflakes who think everyone else should

rush around removing every inconvenience from their little snowflake lives....maybe a stretch in the slam will teach him a bit of humility. But maybe not.

[stevenleser]

22. 240 days to think about what a horrible thing he did.

He's lucky that was not my child. I'm lucky too because I would go to prison for how badly I would have hurt that guy.

[OnlinePoker]

32. Plenty of time for his first batch of prison hootch to ferment. n/t

[Unknown Beatle]

33. He'll probably do less than

half of that time. He'll probably be out in three months, about one third of time served.

Not trying to go outside the OP, but congratulations on the lawsuit going forth, Steven.

[stevenleser]

49. Shame about the time, I'm not the lawsuit guy though.

You are thinking of Steven Laserhaas

[Unknown Beatle]

84. Oppsies

My bad.

[Bernardo de La Paz]

23. An executive is intelligent enough to rehab the alcholic excuse away, before he slaps a kid. nt

[Ilsa]

24. Good. there was no excuse for his abuse. nt

[Warren DeMontague]

25. I remember that story.

I hope that guy gets the help he needs.

[Ian David]

27. This is why I never mix tequila with Jack Daniels. It turns me racist and child-abusing. @sarcasm@

[Swede Atlanta]

37. Let's all agree - flying is a nightmare....

You have to arrive at the airport well ahead of your departure. You pay an extra fee to check a bag or request access to oxygen on the flight.

You are chastised by airline personnel, accosted and probed by the TSA, cramped into departure halls before boarding a dirty aircraft. The freaky fliers have taken all the overhead space so you are stuck with your one small item under the seat in front of you. The seat is almost big enough for a 6 year old. The seat reclines .5 inches if at all.

They serve you no food, snarlingly give you 6 ounces of a beverage and stale peanuts. There are no pillows of blankets. The planes are packed.

The in-flight entertainment system doesn't work. The toilets are hardly clean and are in some cases not even working.

You add on top of that the child behind you kicking your seat and then you have a screaming baby. That is enough to send anyone over the edge.

I have every understanding and sympathy that parents, faced with what I have described above, also care for a baby.

What I have no sympathy for are parents that let the baby scream and cry. I have sat on flights where the parents just let the baby scream. They don't try to soothe or distract the baby or anything. They just sit there and let the child scream.

At that point I want them to position themselves next to the emergency door and let me pull it open.

Parents must take responsibility for their children. They had the fun, now they will pay the price.

I don't know if this was the case here but I can see myself in this man's shoes. He is tired, worn through the torture of traveling which he may have to for his job, and reaches the breaking point.

I am not excusing his behavior but simply saying I can see myself in his shoes.

[Matariki]

45. At the same time. it sure beats weeks on a crowded ship

or months on a wagon train

[Sheldon Cooper]

55. "They had the fun, now they will pay the price."?

Jesus fucking christ. I wish for a crying child on every future flight you take.

[Number23]

65. "but I can see myself in this man's shoes." Then perhaps unemployment, universal scorn

and a prison sentence may be in your future too.

[Nevernose]

70. You know he called the baby the n-word, right?

I get what you were trying to say -- honestly -- that stress and alcoholism are contributing factors. However, I refuse to concede that the TSA and a dirty toilet seat cause racism.

[Catherine Vincent]

74. No XCuses!!

[mstinamotorcity2]

92. I would suggest you don't

look at his shoes if it gives you thought of slapping a child that doesn't belong to you. You might end up in a hospital if you ever answer the urge. When you know you are going to be flying in today's world people should prepare themselves. Babies cry. Invest in a pair of headphones and a good book or magazine to help keep you in a good way. Earplugs also help to muffle noises that are disturbing to you in confined spaces. Pack your patience.

[Gothmog]

39. Good

The man may have been drunk but that is no excuse

[Catherine Vincent]

40. Good!

I was hoping to get an update on this. But I'm guessing he won't spend a day in jail. He'll buy his way out.

[shireen]

42. that man just lost his son

Seems to be no mention of this in the threads so far.
In the article,

Hundley's attorney has said her client had flown to Atlanta to remove his dying son from life support after an insulin overdose and was emotionally distraught. She also blamed his alcoholism for his behavior on the flight.

It's no excuse for slapping the child and the racists slurs. But i do feel compassion for the man. Alcoholism is a terrible disease. I cannot begin to imagine the grief he was feeling over having to take his son off life support.

[JustAnotherGen]

53. You don't take your grief

Out on other people. You just don't. And he should have realized that was a small child. He's lucky the force was not enough to kill the little guy.

[shireen]

57. agreed. he committed a crime, he will pay for it.

I'm just saying that I feel compassion for him because of his grief and illness. Alcoholism is an illness. It's not an excuse for bad and dangerous behavior but it must be recognized as a medical condition that requires treatment.

[Nine]

54. I feel compassion for him.

Alcoholism does terrible things to people, and having to disconnect one's child from life support would make anyone emotionally distraught. I think prison is an awful thing for anyone. This man did a bad thing and now his entire life has been turned upside down because of it. I always feel for people in such a position. It's why I hate the idea of people always having loaded guns at their fingertips. One bad impulse, not controlled or subdued, turns into one terrible action with terrible consequences. I hope this man takes this as a turning point for his life instead of letting things spiral into a bigger and bigger mess.

[Tumbulu]

85. Well said, and I have the same hopes. nt

[Logical]

43. Seems a little long to me. maybe a month! nt

[LanternWaste]

69. Why do you feel that one month is appropriate for assaulting an infant?

Why do you feel that one month is appropriate for assaulting an infant?

[Logical]

72. No priors. Son just died. n-t

[Catherine Vincent]

75. Doesn't matter. You don't hit someone else's child. n/t

[Logical]

78. Too long. n-t

[Cleita]

46. Off topic but did you find out any more about those toddlers you rescued?

Oh and about your post. Good. That abusive asshole deserves it.

[KurtNYC]

47. How is being drunk EVER an excuse?

Seems worse -- "sure my client slapped an infant while spouting racist slurs but it was because my client is an alcoholic so you have to go easy on him. He is impaired and abusive to everyone all the time and doesn't that make HIM the real victim here?"

[Sissyk]

63. Good..

That will give him a nice long time to think about slapping a child.

[mstinamotorcity2]

67. If he had of slapped one of my kids, hell I

should have just been there for that particular slap. I would have gave new meaning to forced Landing. And would have shown him what a can of whop ass look like through a couple black eyes. Fucked up trick hitting children. Hell that could have been a white baby and it still would have been a forced landing. So any of you on a plane and get to slapping children check to see if I am on the plane

[Exultant Democracy]

76. The guy got off light. Keep that monster locked up, hopefuly they force him to get a psych eval

before they release him back into the world so that they can toss him in a hole for another 10 years to really think about what he did.

[appleannie1]

77. Poor baby started crying as they began to descend. His ears probably hurt. The guy not only hit

hit him he called him a racist name and left a mark on his cheek from either a fingernail or ring. He needs to sit in a cell practicing how to control his anger.