Joe Hundley, Idaho man, charged with assault for allegedly slapping a crying toddler on a plane

By: Crimesider Staff
Topics: Daily Blotter

Joe Hundley

/ WCCO/Kootenai County Sheriff

(CBS/AP) ATLANTA - An Idaho man faces a federal assault charge after allegedly hitting a crying child and using a racial slur aboard an Atlanta-bound flight.

In an affidavit filed in U.S. District Court, FBI special agent Daron Cheney says Joe Rickey Hundley, 60, 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 attorneys officials say Hundley was not taken into custody and it is unclear when the case will go to court.

"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.

Hundley was president of a division of AGC Aerospace, an airplane parts manufacturer. The company issued a statement which did not name him, but called the alleged behavior offensive and saying he was "no longer employed by the company," though it's not clear whether he was fired or resigned.

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by angelofurnightmare February 21, 2013 10:25 AM EST: Frankly he's lucky the mother didn't beat him to death right then and there...I would have tried in her shoes; Reply to this comment


by GOP-R--Con-Men February 19, 2013 8:23 PM EST: How is this not a HATE CRIME with him calling the baby the N word before assaulting him?; Reply to this comment

by hamogurl February 18, 2013 5:47 PM EST

1. No child should be abused (abuse-intent to harm)
2. Racial Slurs...hopefully he gets arrested before he gets mugged!
3. Did he really lose his job or was the company just stating that?

It is becoming a really sad world we are all living in!

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by willio29 February 19, 2013 5:52 AM EST: the old goat thatslappedthe baby dont fire him, if he can go to work when i get thru beat his azz,he would be a good one, an he wont
slap anyone elsa.

by mrrevenge February 18, 2013 3:52 PM EST

PETS AND CHILDREN SHOULD BE KEPT IN THE LUGGAGE COMPARTMENT. HOW COME AIR TRAVEL HAS BECOME THE SAME AS RIDING THE CITY BUS. THE SAME FREAKS , NOISES AND SMELLS.

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by enlightenu February 18, 2013 6:06 PM EST: Right, so keep your smelly butt off the plane.


by VA_Jill February 18, 2013 1:27 PM EST: He's a jerk, a drunk, and a bully. He also pled guilty to assault in VA in 2007 for beating his girlfriend (yes, he once had one, odd as that seems) and the story is that he was allowed to plead down to a misdemeanor charge. He lost his job for this and I'm glad.; Reply to this comment

by JohnnyDouche February 18, 2013 12:07 PM EST

He's a libertarian/conservative/TEA PARTY hero! Just doing what he wants. Don't tread on him! F the government and political correctness!

Rubio/Hundley 2016!

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by idunnogal February 18, 2013 12:40 PM EST: Hah! He's nothing but a drunken bully. Being the same age as him, I am shocked at his worn out appearance!