Bond denied for accused child slapper

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

A Gwinnett County man accused of slapping a crying toddler in a Stone Mountain Wal-Mart on Monday will remain in jail at least until next week.

Roger Stephens, 61, has been ordered held in the Gwinnett County jail until his next court appearance on Sept. 8. He has declined interviews with reporters, and a jail representative said Stephens has not had visitors.

His court-appointed attorney could not be reached for immediate comment.

Sonya Mathews, the mother of the 2-year-old child, told police that both were walking in the aisles of the Rockbridge Road store when Stephens approached and said “if you don’t shut that baby up, I will shut her up for you,” according to a police report.

A few moments later, in another aisle, Stephens grabbed the 2-year-old and slapped her across the face four or five times, according to the report.

Stephens then told Mathews, “See, I told you I would shut her up,” according to the report.

A bystander held Stephens until store security came to assist, according to a WSB-TV report.

When police arrived, Stephens said that he slapped the child and that he apologized to Mathews, according to the report.

Stephens was charged with felony cruelty to children. He had his first court appearance Tuesday and is being held at the Gwinnett County Detention Center without bond, according to the Gwinnett Police Department spokesman Cpl. David Schiralli.

In his first-appearance hearing, Stephens said he was unemployed.

The 2-year-old victim sustained slight redness to the face, according to the report. There was no video footage in the area the incident took place, according to the report.