A Gwinnett County man is facing charges for slapping the child of a stranger in a Stone Mountain Walmart this week.
The 2 year old child was crying while the mother, Sonya Mathews, pushed the cart through the store. According to the Atlanta Journal Constitution, sixty one year old Roger Stephens approached the woman and warned her to “shut the baby up” or that he would handle it for it.
Mathews continued to shop as the baby continued to fuss. Stephens came around the corner, grabbed the child and slapped her “four or five times” across the face resulting in red marks.
Police were called and upon their arrival Stephens admitted to the slap and apologized to Ms. Mathews. Unfortunately for him, the apology wasn’t enough and he now faces felony cruelty to children. There were witnesses to the incident, which may prove useful since the act was not caught on any of the multiple cameras in the store.
Although assault crimes are not all that unusually, this case is. We have all been shopping and heard a fussing child. The child may have even got on our nerves but few if any of us probably even considered slapping another person’s child in a situation like this.
The story of Roger Stephens is being blasted all over the Internet as people consider what they would have done in the mother’s situation.It seems that Stephens may have been aggravated and acted without any thought of the repercussions of his actions. This is often how crimes are committed, thinking of short term results only.
If you have been accused of committing a crime and are now facing the potential jail sentences or fines that go with it, you have no choice but to think long-term. Your first step should be locating a proper defense attorney.
I am interested in helping you with your case and seeing that your rights are protected at every stage of the criminal court process. Call me today for a free consultation and to see how I can help.