Man Slaps Stranger's Child in Wal-Mart and Goes to Jail
Roger Stephens Charged with Child Cruelty
Sonya Matthews reportedly screamed at Roger Stephens and then called for security while another customer stopped Stephens from leaving. According to the police report, Paige only suffered facial redness but imagine the fright the little girl suffered. Surprisingly, Matthews told the news reporter that she forgives Stephens, assuming that he suffers from mental problems. Even though Matthews forgives Stephens, he has been charged with cruelty to children in the first degree and is being held in the Gwinnett County Detention Center without bond - presumably to give him time to think about his actions. It is kind of ironic considering that is a similar punishment for children. "Go to your room and think about what you did."
The worst part is that this incident did not occur while they were both standing in line at the checkout register; no, instead they were both shopping when Stephens came up to Sonya and Paige Matthews. If he was so offended by Paige's noise, then why not just walk to another aisle? I certainly hope Stephens is not a parent because his blatant lack of patience is overwhelming. Perhaps he was having a bad day or maybe he was dealing with a killer migraine but that is still no excuse to go up to a stranger's child, and slap her in the face several times. Did he not think that maybe hitting a child would make her cry and create more noise?
So the question is, what would you do if you were extremely annoyed by the sound of a stranger's child screaming or crying? Would you say something to the parent? Would you feel sorry for the parent for not being able to settle their child? Would you offer assistance in a kind, polite manner based on your own parenting experience? Do you think Stephens should face jail time for this offense? Leave your comments below and let me know what you think.
Published by Bobbi Leder
Bobbi Leder is the author of the picture book, THE SECRET POLICE DOG. Leder has been published with a variety of print and web-based magazines, websites, anthologies, and newspapers. View profile
- New Wal-Mart in West Virginia Has Gas LeakSomeone or something busted a propane gas tank that powered a forklift causing an evacuation and temporary closure of a brand new Wal-Mart Supercenter.
- Wal-Mart is Changing Mexico's Retail Marketplace As Wal-Mart grew and expanded across America, this retail giant changed how nearly all retail stores operate. While it's having a similar effect in Mexico, they haven't found success in any other country.
- Wal-Mart: Why I Never Shop ThereGiven the apparent disregard for the "environment" of the parking lot, I am not surprised that Wal-mart would also disregard larger environmental issues.
- Business Ethics at Wal-MartShould a town be able to say they don't want a Wal-Mart to move in? Pros and Cons of Wal Mart.
Employee Free Choice Act Causes Potentially Illegal Wal-Mart Electioneer...The rather disturbing story that Wal-Mart might have crossed the line and sought to tell its management group and some hourly employees how to vote in November reopens Employee...
- New York City Says No to Wal-Mart Store
- Wal-Mart Has Everything Including Doctors?
- Wal-Mart: An Environmental Issue
- Wal-Mart Pays $33 Million for Overtime Violations
- What Image is Wal-mart Trying to Sell?
- Wal-Mart Survival
- The Biography of Sam Walton, Founder of Wal-Mart
- After hitting the woman's child, Stephens reportedly said, "See, I told you I would shut her up."
97 Comments
Post a CommentMore kids need to be slapped around!! Kids nowadays are outta control, parents are afraid to instill discipline. Let the slapping begin!!!
The reason they are called children is because they are still learning. They are learning how to act in a public place. But "all" children, including you when you were a child acted up in public. But I'm sure you weren't violating anyone's rights. Maybe you shouldn't go out in public to protect yourself. Remember you were a child once (probably still one).
Any journalist knows that celebrities loose their privacy rights in public places because they are public figures. Took a lot of guts for a big guy like John to beat up a kid with a camera. How about Jobh vs. this guy? http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/2134935/man_slaps_strangers_child_in_walmart.html?cat=9
Did the cops take your photo in jail John? Ya we know, but I'm bigger than you so....
Real tough guy.. try some six figure therapy John!!
Bravo, David Reinstein, your comments are right on the money.
Let the parents do their job. Let the jail do it's job and keep this out-of-control man from assaulting more children.
Families need to buy things, and a parent can't always drop everything and run from a store whenever their child makes a sound. People who can't deal with a little noise should be the ones to stay home!
The woman should have taken the child out of the building. It's rude to force others to suffer from your inability to control your child.
25 years might be a little excessive, but you should never lay your hands on another person's child, and even the parents should never slap a child in their face. A spanking is acceptable - from the parent! I can understand how frustrating it is when parents bring their children into public places and don't control them, but it is never a stranger's prerogative to take matters into their own hands, and it is never acceptable to slap a child in the face.
I am angry parent who does not like the violence of man slap my child.
I WOULD SLAP THIS MAN MAKE HIM LEAVE IN AMBULANCE.
Logic fail, much? What this guy did was wrong but the people who cry out against violence then threaten to attack/shoot (!) the man are morons.
What has this world come to? Why does one persons rights become more important than anothers. At what point is it the parents job to CONTROL their child so the child is not interfering with all of us? 25 years is totally excessive!!! Rapists don't get 25 years!! How ridiculous. The stranger should not touch the child, and the parent to prevent the child from bothering the rest of us. That is the PARENTS job. If you can't control your child and yourself then stay out of the public! YOU ARE THE PARENT - DO YOUR JOB!
Please tell me - and I truly want to know - what do I do when your child comes up to me and touches me? What do I do when your child refuses to move out of my way when I am walking down an airline hall, or up to the checkout at a fast food joint? What do I do when your child pulls my hair in an airplane? What can I do? What rights do I have to protect myself from being accousted by your child? Honestly, I just truly want to know. I don't want to talk to or touch your child or you, and I don't want to be touch or interefered with by your child. What can I do to protect my rights? Thank you.
If this happened to me I'd be the one in jail and he would be in the morgue.