Idaho man charged with slapping toddler on flight now out of a job

A man is out of a job after he was charged with slapping a toddler on a flight earlier this month.

Joe Rickey Hundley, 60, of Hayden, Idaho, is no longer employed at AGC Aerospace and Defense, Composites Group, a spokesman for the company confirmed Sunday night.

A statement issued by Al Haase, president and CEO of AGC, called Mr. Hundley’s actions “offensive and disturbing,” though the CEO did not name him and did not specify if he resigned or was fired.

Mr. Hundley was charged in Atlanta for simple assault for allegedly slapping the 19-month-old boy during the Delta Air Lines flight.

The boy’s mother, Jessica Bennett, told the FBI their Minneapolis-to-Atlanta flight was on final descent when the boy started to cry due to the altitude change. Mr. Hundley “told her to shut that [N-word] baby up,” FBI special agent Daron Cheney said in a sworn statement, according to the Associated Press.

Mrs. Bennett said the man then slapped her son in the face, scratching him below his right eye.

Mr. Hundley’s attorney, Marcia Shein, said he will plead not guilty. The charge carries a maximum penalty of a year in jail.

• This article is based in part on wire service reports.

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