Racist Baby Slapper was on way to take brain dead son off of life support

[Liberal_in_LA]

Racist Baby Slapper Gets Eight Months in Prison
It turns out Joe Rickey Hundley has a very sad story

(Newser) – A federal judge today sentenced a man to eight months in federal prison for slapping a toddler on an Atlanta-bound flight. Joe Rickey Hundley pleaded guilty to simple assault in October as part of a deal with prosecutors. He was accused of hitting a 19-month-old boy under his eye while on a flight from Minneapolis to Atlanta, after telling the child's mother to "shut that [n-word] baby up." Prosecutors recommended a sentence of just six months in prison, but the judge said he was imposing a harsher one because Hundley had a prior assault conviction.

Before he was sentenced, Hundley apologized to the toddler's mother, who was in the courtroom. He explained that he'd been on edge—and drunk—because his son had just been declared brain dead, and he'd been flying to Atlanta to take him off life support. "I made the most terrible day in my life much worse for me and for others," he said. His lawyer said he'd taken steps to address his alcohol and anger issues. The judge sympathized, but said, "You cannot assault another individual, regardless of how sad or upset, or even how intoxicated or sick, you are."

http://www.newser.com/story/180258/racist-baby-slapper-gets-eight-months-in-prison.html?utm_source=part&utm_medium=united&utm_campaign=rss_topnews

[etherealtruth]

1. I had only paid attention to the headline story

Obviously, slapping a baby (or anyone ... but especially someone so small and fragile) is inexcusable ... but, the circumstances somewhat explain (not excuse, but explain) his abhorrent behavior.

His prior assault .. clearly the guy has some serious issues.

[dixiegrrrrl]

5. He gets drunk as a reaction to news about his son

boards a plane, slaps an African-American baby after referring to it as ...the N word....
and has a record of prior assault (how many, I wonder)

Yeah, he has issues.

[Nye Bevan]

2. I thought he got off lightly before I knew that

but now I think the 8 months is pretty fair.

[Logical]

8. 8 months light?? really? Jail? No previous arrests? n-t

[NutmegYankee]

10. I am leaning against jail after hearing the back story

I don't expect a man to be at his emotional best in a situation like that. And even with the racist comment, I still feel the man can genuinely be sorry.

Obviously, I'm a bleeding heart liberal. Guilty as charged.

[Nye Bevan]

11. Why do you say "no previous arrests"?

He not only had a previous arrest, but he had a previous assault conviction.

[fishwax]

13. according to this article, he had a prior assault conviction n/t

[JI7]

3. i would think he would be more sensitive then to little boys

[DURHAM D]

4. Why did you misquote what he said?

Hundley said "shut that (n-word) baby up".

[Liberal_in_LA]

6. article misquotes him, not me

[DURHAM D]

7. No.

From your link -

He was accused of hitting a 19-month-old boy under his eye while on a flight from Minneapolis to Atlanta, after telling the child's mother to "shut that (n-word) baby up."

[fishwax]

9. "n-word" is in brackets at the link, and DU automatically removes anything in brackets

so if someone just copied and pasted the text, it would show up as it does in the OP.

[kcr]

12. I remember hearing about that when the story first broke

It made me feel badly for him then. The whole thing is just awful

[ProgressSaves]

14. If he was on his way to take his entire family off life support,

it still wouldn't give him a license to slap a baby.

He got exactly what he deserved.

[MisterP]

15. "justice for the paragon of enlightenment Hundley NOW!"

just anticipatin'...