Joe Rickey Hundley is a 60-year-old man accused of a horrific crime. Allegedly, on a plane last month, he slapped a crying toddler on a plane and told the baby's mother to "shut that (n-word) baby up." It's unconscionable, horrible, and memorable because of the depravity. And yet, now, his defense lawyer says Hundley was just insane with grief, flying out to Atlanta to take his only child off life support.
So should that matter?
Since the incident, Hundley, who worked for AGC Aerospace and Defense, has lost his job. He is being tried and could face prison and a six-figure fine for his allegedly drunken assault on a defenseless baby. And yet, as a mom, I can't help but feel for him.
Anyone who has been through horrible grieving can attest that you feel out of it, irritable, drunk even at times. There is a lot to be said for emotion that feels hard to control and overwhelming.
Add alcohol and what appears to be a particularly surly personality and you could get a toxic mix.
There is no excuse for laying hands on a baby. None. It's indefensible. And his use of a racial slur reveals that he is a racist, no matter how you slice it. This isn't a man who deserves much compassion. And yet, I can't help but imagine the pain and grief I might feel in similar circumstances. I have no doubt I could control myself better than him, but I am not emotionally stunted or repressed.
Again, there is no excuse. But there are extenuating circumstances, reasons a judge might consider not giving him jail time and instead just imposing the fine with probation.
This is what our courts look for. They look for reasons and background and we owe it to defendants to listen to them. No one could excuse what Hundley has done here. But he does look slightly more sympathetic now despite his intolerable actions.
Having been through grief enough times, I know you aren't always in control of yourself. In my case, I would have been more likely to hug inappropriately or cry on someone's shoulder. And there is no doubt Hundley needs counseling and some kind of anger management course as well as owing that baby a fine and a massive apology.
But I am not sure about jail time. I just don't know if that would solve the problem. In this case, the extenuating circumstances do make me feel for the defendant.
Do you think the judge should go easier because of what happened?
Image via angeloangelo/Flickr
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Comments 226
@billsfan1104: I thought the proof of him using a racial slur came from the mother holding the child and the other passengers/witnesses?
If he was grieving and using alcohol as a pain-killer, I still cannot muster the strength to feel bad for him. It's a shame that his actions has caused even worse reactions that he has to deal with for a very long time. But, I always think, if you do the crime, albeit intentional or unintentional, then you do the time. Own up to it. Is he a "true" racist? Now, that is probably debatable.
Until "the N word" is completely removed from the vocabulary of this country, instead of being reserved for a priviledged few, its use is not enough to convict someone of being "racist". It was one word, possibly over the course of a lifetime. One word does not make a person "racist".
As for him hitting the child? Unexcusable. Does it require jail time? No. Our justice system is so screwed up - a guy can walk for molesting a child, but a slap gets a man jail and possible bankruptcy? BS.
He should not have been drinking. He should have been in control of his emotions. He should not have assaulted a fellow passenger, and he should face the consequences.
If you want to havea real discussion? Perhaps airlines should consider eliminating alcohol from flights. We hear of more incidents that are fueled because the passenger was drunk.