A California woman charged with misdemeanors for encouraging her daughter to attack an opponent at a youth basketball tournament last year has been ordered to apologize and pay more than $9,000 in restitution.
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As we previously reported, the incident, which was caught on video, and shared on social media occurred during a game between the SoCal Blaze and Dream Academy teams at the MAP Sports Facility in Garden Grove on Nov. 7.
The Mother’s daughter who played for Dream Academy, fell onto Blaze’s Lauryn Ham after trying to shoot a three-pointer in the last seconds of the intense game. After both players got up from the floor and walked across the court, the attacker’s mother, identified as Latira Shonty Hunt, allegedly yelled, “You better hit her for that!”
Hunt’s daughter then walked up and punched Lauryn’s in the head, causing her to fall down. The 15-year-old suffered a concussion and a bruised neck and was rushed to a treatment facility.
“I don’t believe the child should be allowed to play basketball for the foreseeable future until she can get help. The mother should be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law for inciting violence,” Lauryn’s mother, Alice, told NextShark.
The attacker, who is also a minor, has not been identified. Instead, Hunt, 44, was charged with one misdemeanor count of contributing to the delinquency of a minor and one misdemeanor count of battery.
“It is unconscionable that a parent would encourage her child to engage in violence during a sporting event,” Orange County District Attorney Todd Spitzer said at the time. “Youth sports are invaluable in teaching our children discipline, teamwork, and sportsmanship. But a win at all costs mentality that is completely devoid of fair play, respect, and civility is disgusting. We as parents have the fundamental responsibility to raise our children to be good human beings who treat others with kindness and humanity.”