A federal judge on Monday sentenced a man who pleaded guilty to slapping a crying toddler on an Atlanta-bound flight to serve eight months in federal prison. Joe Rickey Hundley, 60, was accused of using a racial slur to refer to the 19-month-old boy, who's black, and hitting him under the eye as the flight from Minneapolis descended to the Atlanta airport last February. He pleaded guilty in October to simple assault after reaching a plea agreement with prosecutors. Prosecutors had recommended a sentence of six months in prison, and Hundley reserved his right to argue for a lower sentence. U.S. Magistrate Judge Alan Baverman said he imposed a higher sentence in part because of Hundley's criminal history, which includes a prior assault.
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Joe Rickey Hundley, 60, has been sentenced to eight months jail
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Last year, he slapped a crying toddler on a plane and used a racial slur to refer to the little boy
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Attorney Hundley said he was 'upset and grieving' while on his way to remove his son from life support during that February flight
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Hundley's son died the next day after falling into a 'coma for life'
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Toddler's mother, 33-year-old Jessica Bennett, said Hundley was intoxicated when he attacked her adopted son
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Hundley's lawyer has not said if he will appeal the sentence
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