FBI: Idaho man slaps crying boy on plane, charged with assault
ATLANTA (AP) — A 60-year-old Idaho man has been charged with simple assault for allegedly slapping a 2-year-old boy aboard an Atlanta-bound flight.
In an affidavit filed in U.S. District Court, FBI special agent Daron Cheney says Joe Rickey Hundley, of Hayden Idaho, slapped the 2-year-old boy during a Delta Air Lines flight from Minneapolis on Feb. 8.
The child's mother, 33-year-old Jessica Bennett, of Minneapolis, told authorities the boy was crying as the plane prepared for landing. Bennett says Hundley was sitting next to her and slapped the boy in his face, causing a scratch under his right eye. She says Hundley used a racial epithet while demanding her to quiet the boy.
Hundley "told her to shut that ('N word') baby up," Cheney said in the affidavit. "Ms. Bennett received assistance from several people on the plane, including male passenger Todd Wooten." Cheney said.
Wooten was seated rows in front of Bennett and said he came to help after he heard derogatory language being used behind him, according to court documents. Bennett said the infant began crying louder after he was slapped.
District attorney officials say Hundley was not taken into custody, however he was charged with assault.
"We think that it is important to let the case develop, and we'll see how it all comes out," Hundley's attorney Marcia Shein said Friday.
On Sunday, Shein said that Hundley will plead not guilty.
KBOI 2 News learned that Hundley has been suspended from his job at Uni-tech Composites and Structures, pending the outcome of the investigation.
In an affidavit filed in U.S. District Court, FBI special agent Daron Cheney says Joe Rickey Hundley, of Hayden Idaho, slapped the 2-year-old boy during a Delta Air Lines flight from Minneapolis on Feb. 8.
The child's mother, 33-year-old Jessica Bennett, of Minneapolis, told authorities the boy was crying as the plane prepared for landing. Bennett says Hundley was sitting next to her and slapped the boy in his face, causing a scratch under his right eye. She says Hundley used a racial epithet while demanding her to quiet the boy.
Hundley "told her to shut that ('N word') baby up," Cheney said in the affidavit. "Ms. Bennett received assistance from several people on the plane, including male passenger Todd Wooten." Cheney said.
Wooten was seated rows in front of Bennett and said he came to help after he heard derogatory language being used behind him, according to court documents. Bennett said the infant began crying louder after he was slapped.
District attorney officials say Hundley was not taken into custody, however he was charged with assault.
"We think that it is important to let the case develop, and we'll see how it all comes out," Hundley's attorney Marcia Shein said Friday.
On Sunday, Shein said that Hundley will plead not guilty.
KBOI 2 News learned that Hundley has been suspended from his job at Uni-tech Composites and Structures, pending the outcome of the investigation.
The baby from e-trade is now blogging about it
When are they going to stop serving alcohol on planes? Alcohol is no excuse for abuse, but it does lower inhibitions, impairs judgement, and increases violent reactions. NO ONE should be trapped in a metal cylinder speeding high up through the air with drunks aboard and no way to get away from them and their behavior.
If this were my kid that dude wouldn't get a mugshot he'd get a toe tag.Â
@finlyn Good to be in jail for killing an idiot for a slap and bad word, than being home raising your child stressing violence is not the answer
You have got to be kidding! A grown man slaps a youngster because he is crying... This is appalling.Â
Why isn't he also being charged with a hate crime?
Children do not understand why their ears hurt. Give the kid a bottle of juice or milk to suck on and the swallowing opens up the ears.
Isn't taking a child to a place where the child thinks their head is about to explode abuse? Arrest the mother and ban children from air travel.
@Bert Give me a break....
If someone slapped my kid I would punch them in the face and then kick them in the balls. They should have arrested this guy.
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@Dr. Rawdog yeah, slapping a toddler makes them stop crying. What do you think?
@Yourmothersir @Dr. Rawdog Depends how hard you slap them
@Dr. Rawdog - The slap did not work
Calm down everyone. The in-flight movie was "Campaign," and they just watched the scene where Will Ferrell punches the baby right in the face. I think any of us might have reacted to a crying baby in a similar manner, especially after seeing it on the screen. It's a case of life imitating Hollywood. And about the racial epithet? Why is anyone shocked about that? I mean..dude is from Idaho..the new Alabama..and his name is "Joe Rickey Hundley." Anytime you have a Billy Bob or Jim Bob or Jimmy Lee or Ricky Bobby..you gotta consider the source.   Â
@STDFlorist I never saw the movie, did the slap work.
why does the article not just state that the man slapped a 2 year old child? why do they have to state that it was a black baby? If it had been a white baby, the ad would have just stated that the man slapped a 2yr old and not stated that it was a 2yr old "white baby" I don't defend the man that did this, and think that he should be punished accordingly, but what makes me sick is the fact that they have to state that it was a "black" baby to try to rile up some sort discrimination issue. If we want equality, then why do we always point out special groups or races that appear to be targeted??
@Donttreadonme It's the disgusting derogatory racial slur he made toward the baby. Get it?
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@TheUglyTruth @Lips @Donttreadonme Because that is so very common.
And if a black guy did do that, do you think they would have just let him go?
@Donttreadonme They likely stated it was a black baby because of the racial epithet the man used.  At least that would be my guess.  Whether you agree with it or not, it's relevant.
@Donttreadonme Maybe because this clown use the N word. I see you left that out.
Lips! You have no clue what you are talking about. If child was white the media would have talked about. I find it very disturbing how you can be so clueless.This clown was fired because of his bad behavior on the plane and the black eye he left on the employer he worked for. This three times drunk that you are defending may cost Delta some money. Lips put a clothes pin on it.
@African Lion Defending? Are you insane? I think the guy should have been stomped into the dirt the second the plane landed. What's disturbing is reading the comments. Because this little angel is black and this jerk was racist enough to call him a derogatory name it opens up a debate. The entire page should be nothing but people agreeing about what scum he is. Instead it's about gun rights, interracial adoption, and who the ''real'' racists are, etc. Perhaps my comment was worded wrong as the tigress is also on my back.
According to CNN this is the 2nd time this guy has been charged with assaulting someone. He was already drunk when he got on the flight and the woman had chosen to stand in the back of the plane during most of the flight because he ordered 3 alcoholic drinks throughout the flight. It was only during the approach to land that she had to sit down and that's when he slapped her 19 month old child.   His company officially fired him Sunday.
@Justanother1 he should be banned from flying, period. Delta should have moved him to a seat between 2 big guys AND secured him there with zip-ties handcuffs, duct tape. Serving him THREE drinks? What about cutting him off??! If I was this mother I would be lining up a lawyer right now. There drinks to an obviously impaired lout...unbelievable.
@Justanother1Â And CNN is credible like naming the wrong in the Conn. shooting? I think somebody started their made for tv movie script and got it mixed with the news
@Bert @Justanother1 CNN is credible here. He was fired. Now wipe the egg off of your face.
Were this a white child there would be no discussion. Everyone would agree hands down that the guy is a baby abuser and should have been thrown from the plane. But because the child is black there's room to discuss it. Very disturbing.
@Lips It's because of the racial slur he used...it would still be news if any other race baby got slapped, but the baby being black is relevent now because of the slur
We've all been on planes where children get loud, unruly, and just downright obnoxious. However, having flown when my kids were small, I can sympathize to a degree. I knew my kids would be bored and need some sort of activity they could do to occupy themselves and I was prepared. The kids also knew they had to behave. but anymore, it seems as if parents think their children are darling, brilliant amusing kids and kicking seat backs or throwing things on planes is their right to express themselves. This mans reaction was wrong, but I'm sure there is way more to this story.
@Kachina An 18-month-old with a pressure block in his ear or sinus doesn't know how to yawn or clear his nose and make it go away. He can't take Bennies, order a drink, chew a piece of gum or explain his excruciating pain to his mom. There's nothing a baby can do but scream which, unfortunately, makes the pain worse before making it better.
Basic aviation physiology.Â
That's what there is to the story. FFS.
@Lips And if a black guy slapped a baby and told it to shut it's cracker mouth he would have been in a lot more trouble than just released when they landed.
@darren vandervort @Lips You and Lips are both correct here.
@Lips BS. A stranger assaulting a babe in arms is going to initiate outrage no matter the race of the baby.Â
@tigress @Lips you'd think...
We are not surprised by who gets flushed out into the forum here, I mean who defends the abuse of a child? Compounding it with racist  slurs, your favorite conservative gun loving corporate president, at least consistent, Hayden lake? Oh yeah, home of that very special white pride. So why do these racist live here?
@Social Glimpse Wow.  I don't know what you're referring to .. obviously it was before I started reading.  I don't even know if I agree with you or not, given that you sure don't make any easily comprehended point.
Mr. Hundley should be found guilty of assault, but he also shouldn't be allowed on an airplane until he (1) takes some classes in how to act in public (2) is required to take some serious anger management classes, because this is likely just the tip of his uncontrollable anger-iceberg and (3) proves his ability to shut his foul mouth, which most reasoning people find more objectionable than a crying two year old that will soon be off the plane and far away.
@SilverGuardian @Social Glimpse no planes ever again. Put him on Amtrak where they can just stop the train and throw him off if need be. Or the bus. Or make him drive his own sorry butt to wherever he needs to go to.
@SilverGuardian @Social GlimpseÂ
Don't think him being on an airplane will be a problem any time soon, since he lost his job over all this.
I'm sure he's a good Christian just following his strong religious beliefs.
@hotrods arefun HeeHee ... yup.  Them religious beliefs require men to take strong action against them squalling babies that interfere with their prayer time during air descents.
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@Iast boyscout Uh...I like cheese?
@Iast boyscoutÂ
What's that?
@Diogenes Lastboyscout's summer cabin?
What is obvious to the rest of civilized world...restrict those gun hoarding racist  conservatives, and we have restored peace and safety to our community, hit a baby and walk away? use a racial slur, lots of white pride in that? these right wingers have a new champion. You uber posting swill touting your jackboot rights over the rest of us, have your poster boy. note to gun nuts, your race pure ideals and gun fetish...Idaho, your kind of place.
@Social Glimpse I read this and wondered whether you wander through life pretty much as angry and reactionary as you sound.  If you have guns, I truly would want to restrict your ability to get more, but perhaps that makes your own point?  And then you do seem to point out a couple of things that I can agree with, although I would not have been so excitable that I barely could state my position.  We lived in Sandpoint, Idaho in 1980. Six very very VERY long months.  If people haven't lived there, they likely don't get what you're trying to say.  At that time (and maybe still), teachers didn't have to have a four year degree, and certainly didn't have to take continuing education.  Walking into the junior high school was a poor choice if the students weren't all confined to their classes, because they found it highly amusing to run into people in packs. Food being thrown across the lunchroom was watched over by three teachers trying to just stay out of the way, plastered against the walls.  I did not ONCE drop the kids off at the school without seeing a fist fight outside the doors of the school. My three children informed me that if they had to continue school there, they would all choose to go live with their father.  I was proud of them for being that intelligent. Â
Going to the lake meant listening to bigots and loudmouths. Â I blamed much of it on the Californians who had come into the area in droves, thinking that with the huge amounts they'd sold their houses for, they were now RICH by comparison to people who actually worked hard for a living. Â But the original townspeople were also very cliquish, and with the nastiness of the influx of "rich" Californians who thought they should be able to click their fingers and change the whole town, I have to wonder if you have it right. Â Chances are that they did hole up and become less and less able to deal with what was being forced down their throats.
I do not ever wish to return, even for a visit.
Yes because lord knows we have never heard of a liberal being racist or carrying guns. Where do they get people like Social Glimpse? Now every conservative slaps babies? Is that the take away from this story? Perhaps some more time in logical thinking and less time in emotional thinking will help you.
@jpdx00Â Sorry ... but you mis-interpret, I believe. Â Most racists are Conservative. Â That doesn't mean most Conservatives are racist. Â Nor does it indicate that racists are ALWAYS conservatives. Â However, to be liberal in conscience doesn't necessarily mean to be politically liberal. Â It's not unusual for a person to tend to be personally closer to being liberal, and politically more Conservative. Â
So your comment is unworthy of you. Â He didn't say that all conservatives are racists who go around slapping babies. Â Don't spin.
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@TheUglyTruth @Social Glimpse
Actually, pretty much all racists ARE conservatives. Â Several studies have shown that the same impulse that leads a person to fear the future and to hold on to the status quo also creates the mindset for racism (http://www.livescience.com/18132-intelligence-social-conservatism-racism.html).
And while we're apparently critiquing grammar, you used the ellipsis wrong twice. Â It's three dots in the middle of a sentence, four at the end. Â Not five. Â Guess that makes you ignorant, right?
Every dog has it's day, depending on who is responding to one's comments. I believe we all sit in the hot seat sooner or later.
@Sundowner @Diogenes I am in your tribe with that behavior.........= )
@Diogenes I absolutely know better and yet.....
@Sundowner @DiogenesÂ
Invoke the devil and he'll appear....
@Diogenes Oh, you're off today too?  Where's lee?  We could have fun...
@SilverGuardian @Playanekes @TheUglyTruth @Social Glimpse
http://youtu.be/zyu2jAD6sdo
@SilverGuardian @Playanekes @Diogenes @TheUglyTruth @Social Glimpse
You're TOTALLY wrecking my street cred, SilverGuardian! Â Spinning up Playanekes is fast becoming my favorite day-off-nothing-better-to-do pastime.
http://i2.kym-cdn.com/entries/icons/square/000/002/135/sw50sw8sw578.gif
@Playanekes @Diogenes @TheUglyTruth @Social Glimpse Playanekes, I think it's a shame that Diogenes put his comments in the form he did, because you seem to have been so angry about "how" he said things that you really didn't notice that he is against racism.  Period.  I don't actually see anything in what you were saying that even ran counter to his own points.
Read the link. Â It doesn't say that most racists are white. Â It says that most racists hold right-wing ideals. Â Since most people with right-wing ideals count themselves Conservatives, it therefore equates to the same thing. Â While it isn't necessarily true that most Conservatives are racists ... most racists are Conservatives. Â That is actually pretty obvious, anyway, because a Liberal viewpoint just doesn't work well with being racist. Â However, being politically liberal doesn't necessarily mean having liberal personal views. Â
The article also points out that most racists are not high in IQ. Â It doesn't say that only Whites are right-wing dullards with racist tendencies. Â It DOES say that racists (regardless of color) tend to be right-wing and are generally not highly intelligent. Â I know one who IS highly intelligent, but his need for being the center of attention at all times does mean that he surrounds himself with gun nuts who are racist (as he is ... it's always nice, if you're self-centered, to have an entire segment of the population who you can consider yourself to be "above").
@Sundowner @DiogenesÂ
Never would...unless you did it first. Â Note, that's the first time I've done that, and only because Ugly started it. Â I figure, if someone opens the door, they shouldn't complain about what comes through it.... Â 4...dots.
@Diogenes I'm the biggest offender of too many dots or not enough.  Please don't ever correct me on it, k?  =)
@Playanekes @Diogenes @TheUglyTruth @Social GlimpseÂ
Ugh. Â Internet Tough Guy. Â Every forum has one of these wannabe Rambos. They're always the guy who's actually never "been there and done that." Â Every single time.