ATLANTA, Georgia — An Idaho man accused of uttering a racial slur and slapping a crying 19-month-old on a Delta Air Lines flight pleaded not guilty in Atlanta federal court Tuesday.
Joe Ricky Hundley, 60, is charged with simple assault in the Feb. 8 incident.
The boy’s mother, Jessica Bennett, 33, of Minnesota and her son were seated in row 28, seat B, on Delta Flight 721 that originated in Minneapolis.
As the plane began its descent into Atlanta, the boy began to cry because of the altitude change and his mother tried to soothe him.
Then Hundley, who was seated next to the mother and son, allegedly told her to “shut that (‘N word’) baby up.”
Hundley then turned around and slapped the child in the face with an open hand, which caused him to scream even louder, an FBI affidavit said.
The boy suffered a scratch below his right eye.
Other passengers on the plane assisted Bennett, and one of them heard the slur and witnessed the alleged assault, the affidavit said.
“I could not believe that he would say something like that and to a baby or about a baby and then to hit him was just, I felt like I was in another world. I was shaking,” Bennett told CNN affiliate KARE in Minneapolis.
The charge of simple assault on someone under age 16 carries a prison sentence of one year, court papers said.
In 2007, Hundley pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor assault charge filed in Virginia, according to court records.
37 Comments to “Man Accused of Slapping Toddler on Plane Pleads Not Guilty”
February 17, 2013 at 7:24 PM
Psycho. Looks like an old drunk.
February 17, 2013 at 7:45 PM
He's Sandusky's angry little brother.
February 17, 2013 at 8:10 PM
I can understand his frustration with an out of control baby. His approach was wrong.
February 17, 2013 at 8:17 PM
Since he uttered the 'N' word in direct relation to the slap, shouldn't the charge be for a 'hate crime' as well?
February 19, 2013 at 10:55 PM
Excuse me, Guest??? You know what? I didn't really agree with Gladnoe, but you just proved his/her point—fool
February 17, 2013 at 8:20 PM
Check his home to see if he has any guns. Put his name on a list so no one EVER sells him a gun. This is a mentally unstable person ripe for a racist killing. Company needs to take steps to protect employees; especially his boss. Lock him up and get him help!
February 17, 2013 at 11:56 PM
Even though you are obviously being sarcastic, it it were up to me I would put him on the mentally- unstable-do-not-own-a-gun list. This is the second time he's been arrested for assault — and who in their right mind slaps a stranger's baby like that!
February 17, 2013 at 9:42 PM
Hey Stubby…. Please don't feed the trolls.
February 17, 2013 at 10:15 PM
Clean up on isle 5 !!
February 17, 2013 at 10:21 PM
Karma
February 17, 2013 at 10:55 PM
Someone should have slapped his old face back!
February 18, 2013 at 12:20 AM
One of them heard the slur and witnessed the alleged assault. If someone saw this why is it alleged?
He needs to be punished and someone should of slapped him and left a scratch. Oh but then he could sue them. My bad. He's stupid. I hope he doesn't have kids or grand kids.
February 18, 2013 at 3:46 AM
A baby is going to be a baby. Simple as that … We all were at one point a baby. They are innocent people. Nothing they do is wrong in their eyes because they think and do what a baby is supposed to do. It's obvious a reason the baby was crying that most people don't understand why. But it really doesn't matter. You just don't go slapping a 19 month old toddler. But I wonder if this guy would have slapped a new born baby crying just as much as he thought that 19 month old was.
February 18, 2013 at 12:27 PM
Huh?
February 18, 2013 at 5:33 AM
Anyone who has flown with a child knows that descending in an airplane is very painful for little ones. The pressure in their ears causes extreme pain. This idiot obviously has never flown with a baby and deserves everything he gets from this sickening act.
February 18, 2013 at 9:14 AM
The few times we did have to fly with our babies and toddlers we got some medication from their pediatrician to help ease the pain from the ears and pressure. Never had a problem. This is what I do not understand there is medication available for babies and toddlers that can really help but many parents I see do not bother.
As for the POS slapping, he is one sick individual that needs serious anger management. Glad he lost his job but if I were an employee or manager of the place I would be scared of what he could do. Sure hope he does not have any guns.
February 18, 2013 at 12:03 PM
maybe parents aren't into drugging their children
February 18, 2013 at 5:31 PM
some mothers can't control their children–and she let some man slap him???
February 18, 2013 at 10:51 AM
Obviously you also need help…
February 18, 2013 at 10:57 AM
Life in prison
February 18, 2013 at 11:42 AM
why would the airlines even sit the two together. Putting the Child and mother together in one seat, then putting someone next to them is just asking for trouble.
February 18, 2013 at 12:51 PM
The town where that man is from, is known for their white supremacists. It wouldn't be too much of a shock if this guy is a Neo-Nazi.
February 18, 2013 at 5:29 PM
yes–that makes good sense
February 18, 2013 at 5:50 PM
And there are COWARDS like you that wouldn't dare go in the public and repeat any of that. They ONLY place you would EVER say it is in the comfort of your home sitting behind a keyboard. We all know that.
February 18, 2013 at 5:52 PM
By the way Devout, without express permission from the person whose address you posted by posting it I do believe you are breaking the law….
February 18, 2013 at 6:33 PM
Idiot, you don't know that.
February 18, 2013 at 7:04 PM
That punk SO B needs a good 'ol fashion American A$$ Whooping. Simple as that. If I were on that flight and witnessed that he would need a proctologist for life.
February 18, 2013 at 7:36 PM
I'm outraged! Somebody hold me back!
February 19, 2013 at 8:02 AM
It is a sad day when a grown adult cannot control himself and hurts another person, especially a child
February 20, 2013 at 11:03 AM
hi everyone, im an idiot