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"If you don't shut that baby up, I will shut her up for you." These are words that will live in the memories of horrified onlookers at a Stone Mountain, Ga., Walmart location last year, when a stranger walked up to a 2-year-old toddler, grabbed and then slapped her across the face four or five times for crying, after repeatedly warning the mother to keep her child quiet.
A Gwinnett County judge found Roger Stephens, 61, guilty of second-degree child cruelty and sentenced him yesterday to six months in jail. Stephens, who has been in jail since the incident occurred on August 31 of last year, has about five weeks left on his sentence.
The retiree will also spend six months in home confinement, after his jail sentence is completed, which translates in to no contact with children 12 and under, round-the-clock use of an ankle monitor and mandatory mental health counseling.
Stephens' defense attorney Jeff Sliz, says that his client's behavior was "the ultimate knee-jerk reaction." He also reveals that Stephens is shocked at the media circus the case has turned into, "He never in his wildest imagination believed it would mushroom into this." Sliz goes on to say, that Stephens has certainly learned his lesson, "He put his hands on a child when he clearly shouldn't have, and he realizes that."
Comments: (11)
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By: Jade on 1/20/2010 1:38PM
It's funny he's shocked by people's shock to his reaction!
Like someone said before, part of his punishment should have included being tied to a chair in a room full of toddlers! What a FRAZZLED jacka$$!
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By: JMH on 1/20/2010 1:48PM
In May 1998, A FedEx Manager, Tim Cecil denied me time off to attend my Father's funeral in New York. I did not receive a sympathy card from Tim, and no flowers were sent to my Father's funeral. I specifically asked for time off to grieve my Father or to attend the funeral. With emotional pain and tears in my eyes, I had to grieve my Father, John Henry Holt at work. FedEx says, Tim used "poor judgement" to justify their Discriminatory practices at the Elizabethtown, KY station. This was Deliberate! Tim also denied Jose Deleon time off to attend his Stepfather's funeral. Because of my pending lawsuit I was fired on Sept. 25, 2009. I remember Manager, Kevin Hart saying, "Johnnie, I am going to make it short and sweet, you are fired!" This was Wrongful Termination and Retaliation! My work record is 25 years of loyal service, 23 years of Safe Driving and 16 years Perfect Attendance. This is why FedEx needs a UNION!!! Go to YouTube, search word: FedEx Inhumane Treatment.
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By: Carla on 1/20/2010 2:05PM
He should of gotten an ass whipping from the parents. Then it would of been justice!!
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By: toyna on 1/20/2010 6:55PM
THAT'S all the time this asswipe got? I guess this is FAIR AND BALANCE TREATMENT WITHIN THE LAW HUH? THIS SAPSUCKER SLAPPED A CHILD, JUST GIVE ME 1 SECOND WITH HIM, YOU POOR UGLY WASTE OF AIR.
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By: George on 1/20/2010 7:53PM
I do not doubt for one second -- that this jackass is a "conservative" Republican
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By: Stephanie on 1/20/2010 10:46PM
Quite honestly, I applaud the man for having the courage to do what many of us want to do. I've grown so weary of listening to kids whine, cry and throw tantrums in stores. Most parents just ignore their kids as if this mess is somehow music to our ears.
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Parents these days are raising a bunch of spoiled brats. There used to be a time when acting a fool in the store was unacceptable, and for sure would have earned you a spanking or whipping if you did so. Now, we have parents who think its best to use timeout, ignore their children or reason with their children.
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I don't care what anyone says, the Bible is right. Parents must train up a child in the way they should go. "Train" is a verb. The parent has to teach the child how to behave. There should be consequences for unacceptable behavior. The Bible also says the rod of chastisement will drive foolishness away from a child. We need to stop induldging our children and go back to what worked - spankings and whippings or a tap on the hand/leg for toddlers.
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By: kaycee67 on 1/20/2010 11:47PM
First of all, to Stephanie: You're out of your frickin' mind! This jerk had absolutely no right to touch this child. He wasn't raising her, and didn't know the little girl or his mother. Where's the logic of inflicting pain on a child to get them to stop crying anyway? No one reading about this case knows why she was fussy that day. Did it ever occur to you and like minded people that she didn't feel well? It's not like 2 year olds have the ability or vocabulary to express themselves clearly. Children especially small ones, need patience and understanding, not violence. Oh, and another thing, if you were behaving in a way that someone else found annoying, would that give them license to haul off and smack you?
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By: kaycee67 on 1/20/2010 11:52PM
To correct and error: I meant to type her mother, not his. My apologies. Besides the above however, I just wanted to say that I don't think six months was enough. And, also, I couldn't help wondering if Roger Stephens would have hit a White child under the same circumstances.
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By: GERI on 1/21/2010 12:58AM
Nope he didn't get his due...and better that childs mother then me....cause it would have been hell or jail that day!
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By: Jusu Ngobeh on 1/21/2010 1:40AM
Has this brute got a child? I really doubt it.He deserves harsher punishment for all I care
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