Billy Joe Madden Makes 8-year-old Son Drive While He Sleeps Off a Drunk

COMMENTARY | Billy Joe Madden, of Hattiesburg, Mississippi is a lucky man. He's lucky for three reasons: 1) He's alive. Undeservedly so, but alive; 2) Both of his children are unharmed, in spite of his best efforts and; 3) No innocent fellow drivers were hurt because of his stupidity.

In a report from WDSU.com, Billy Joe "Father-of-the-year" Madden was traveling from Hattiesburg, Mississippi to Dallas, Texas with his two young children when the effects of his alcohol consumption just became too much for him. So, he decided to take a nap. At this point he almost made a good decision in choosing to sleep the booze off. But all of his "attaboys" turned to naught when he allegedly chose to have his 8-year-old son drive his truck instead.

Fortunately, for his young son, and his 4-year old daughter accompanying them, a concerned driver reported the green Chevy pickup truck being operated erratically by a child on I-12 in Louisiana shortly after 6:30 a.m. Saturday, July 30, 2011. When police stopped the vehicle they allegedly discovered the little guy driving, "Wonder Dad" sleeping in the passenger seat and his little girl riding in the back. Fortunately, neither child was harmed (though maybe dad should have been - at least a little bit - from an accidental slip of a baton or ten).

Officers arrested Mr Madden on two counts of child desertion, a single charge of a parent allowing a child to drive, along with two counts of no child restraint, and no seat belt. The kids were turned over to Child Protective Services in lieu of being picked up by a family member, and Billy Joe Madden was booked into Livingston Parish Jail on $1,474 bail.

This case might still not be one eligible for justifiable homicide-by-cop, but it certainly counts as a great reason for divorce for Mrs Madden. Let's all hope she has the good sense to make the right decision, for the children's sake, and not bail him out. A guy like Billy Joe Madden does not deserve his family.