Who says we don’t follow up on stories? Back in September, we told you about Roger Stephens, a grumpy, 61-year-old white guy from Stone Mountain, Ga. Stephens earned our Grouchy Asshole of the Year Award for taking his dislike of crying kids to the limit, and beyond.
On Aug. 31 last year, Stephens went to Wal-Mart in Stone Mountain and found himself near Sonya Matthews, a young black woman from Grayson, Ga, when Ms. Matthews’ 2-year-old girl started crying. Most people would have ignored the child or walked away, but Stephens, seeing a chance to win that Grouchy Asshole of the Year title, told Ms. Matthews, “If you don’t shut that baby up, I will shut her up for you.” A few moments later, as they neared one another in another aisle, Stephens grabbed the child and slapped her across the face four or five timess. Then, in the coup de grace that cinched the award for him, Stephens turned to Ms. Matthews and said, “See, I told you I’d shut her up.” Police arrested Stephens and charged him with felony cruelty to children.
This morning, a Gwinnett County, Ga. judge found Stephens guilty of cruelty to children in the second degree, and sentenced him to six months in jail and six months’ home confinement. Now who’s getting smacked? Stephens has been in jail since Aug. 31, so he really only has five weeks remaining on the jail sentence. Stephens will not be allowed contact with children under age 12 during his home confinement, and he will have to wear an ankle monitor and undergo mental health counseling. So, congratulations, Roger Stephens – we’re always proud to see one of our award winners in the news again. And, yeah, we’re glad the judge nailed you.
This article appears in Jan 19-25, 2010.
This guy sucks but since many people are actual killers that get less attention. So on balance this story is miss guided.
The title caught my eye. You have bollocks sir. I don’t have the guts to write headlines like that! LOL
Welcome to America, the world of the inconsequential event that is eventually scrutinized by every member of the equally inconsequential masses. It’s too bad Stephens didn’t take care of the mother while he was at it…or actually commit a crime worth reporting. It seems we live in a world where unbalanced human beings reign…and since he was supporting this status quo… should taxpayer money really be directed to such minor events? I find this to be a disgusting waste of time, money, resources and space on the part of everyone involved, including myself.
I can think of many times I would have liked to slap a disorderly kid who wouldn’t shut up while I was in the store, but I never have.
This guy just did what the rest of us didn’t have the courage to do.
You can take all of your lies about him and these postings down now, because Roger Philip Stephens is deceased. No longer necessary to carry this any further after 6 years. Drop it. The courts did, and please remove this post for a deceased individual.
Roger Stephen’s was a good old man and got to know him in jail. There are no crying kids in heaven so he’s smiling with the last laugh from heaven. The little girl he hit was recently quoted saying “I’m glad grandpa smacked me, I no longer pout for things I dont deserve anyways”!