MINNEAPOLIS (AP) -- The Minneapolis mother of a boy allegedly slapped by a passenger aboard an Atlanta-bound flight says the toddler has now become apprehensive of strangers.

Jessica Bennett told authorities that Joe Hundley slapped her 2-year-old boy in the face and called him a racial slur when the child was crying on a flight from Minneapolis on Feb. 8.

In a statement provided to KARE-TV (http://kare11.tv/YyjZ58 ), Bennett says the family has a lot of questions about how the 60-year-old passenger could get so out of control. She says it's caused emotional trauma to the entire family.

Hundley faces a federal charge of simple assault. Hundley's attorney, Marcia Shein, said Saturday he will plead not guilty.

---

Information from: KARE-TV, http://www.kare11.com