Donnetta Foster, Georgia Mother, Faces Jail Time For Son's Library Giggling (VIDEO)

Donnetta Foster admits to throwing a fit after she and her giggling baby were kicked out of a Georgia public library, but the 20-year-old mother hardly thinks she deserves jail time over the incident.

Roughly one year ago, Foster and her 14-month-old son, Savon, visited the Decatur Public Library so that Foster could use a computer to prepare for a job interview, the Atlanta Constitution-Journal reported. The single mother had her son busy with a deck of animal flashcards when a library security guard tried to eject her from the building because the boy was laughing too loud.

Foster says she asked a library employee to intervene, but the staff member instead shut down the computer and insisted that the guard eject Foster from the building, according to reports.

A police account explained that she "became irate, yelling in a loud and boisterous manner," and used profane language, according to CBS Atlanta.

Police eventually arrested Foster across the street from the library and police charged her with disorderly conduct, the Atlanta Constitution-Journal reported.

Foster's attorney, Mawuli Mel Davis, admits that his client stepped out of line, but does not believe the situation required police intervention.

“She was loud. She was upset. She was emotional,” Davis said of his client. “But it did not warrant her being arrested.”

Since Foster refused to accept a plea and the judge will not drop the charges, a court date is set for Sept. 13.

Foster faces up to twelve months in jail if convicted of obstruction of a police officer.

WATCH:

Comments

[Sheilah Davis]

10:32 PM on 09/17/2011

Case law is clear on the issue...cursing is protected under the first amendment. These type of cases are springing up across the county and it casts a bad light on our dutiful police officers. Cases like these only waste tax dollars. The citizens of Georgia should be upset that the lawyers are wasting their money pursuing such cases.

[halfhajj]

11:33 AM on 09/22/2011

the woman was ejected from the library she returned still cussing at the librarian, the police were called and she spent a full 48 minutes cussing at the police before she was arrested. She deserves what she gets.

[Trixie523]

08:28 PM on 09/12/2011

There are three sides to every story. We have yet to hear the otherside of this story and we will never know the truth about what really happened. She could have pleaded no contest to these charges but she wanted her day in court. So tomorrow is her day.

[donnettafoster]

11:31 AM on 09/12/2011

Shaking My Head.......

[theHOLEtruth]

01:24 AM on 09/12/2011

A YEAR IN JAIL!!! AND LINDSEY LOHAN GOT WHAT FOR PROBATION VIOLATION AND THIEF? I'VE WORKED WITH COURTS AND SOME JUDGES THROW NUMBERS OF INCARCERATION AROUND LIKE IT WAS DICE-ARE COURT SYSTEM IS BROKEN!!!

[whoknew222]

12:13 AM on 09/12/2011

A giggling toddler is no cause to ask someone to leave. She says she asked for help and I have always had librarians help me when I needed a way to access information. There had to be a quicker way to get her what she needed rather than to debate the issue and aggravate it further.

[LCDTV]

10:27 PM on 09/11/2011

this country is getting out of control by arresting people for minor offenses. this is a lose lose sitituation for everyone and society does not benifit buy putting this lady behind bars or fining her.
so what if the baby was crying out loud that is no reason to kick the lady out of the library.

[Oozlefinch]

10:49 AM on 09/12/2011

I agree, and please HP, stop these misleading headlines! She may (incorrectly and absurdly) go to jail for throwing a fit, about being asked to leave, but NOT JUST because her baby was giggling. Please stop these National Enquire type headlines!

[petercrisssgirl]

07:44 PM on 09/11/2011

Okay, she wasn't actually arrested because her son was giggling and laughing...She was arrested because she threw a BF after she was asked to leave. She was abusive verbally and it was a disorderly conduct charge...She should set a better example for her son and learn to behave in a civilized manner. She could have walked away and if it were that bothersome, called and spoke to someone in charge to complain. She took it upon herself to raise hell over being asked to leave the library. People need to get over themselves.

[alexandra23]

08:54 PM on 09/11/2011

I normally agree with you on most subjects, petercrissgirl, but I don't think that any of us know what this woman's circumstances are. I'm not condoning throwing hissy fits when upset, but that aside, this woman may be stressed out because she's had a hard time getting a job, she may be on food stamps and receiving other public assistance, and trying to do the right thing by going to a library to continue her job search with a baby in tow. Perhaps she was feeling that she was at the end of her rope and it just took one thing to send her over the edge with frustration. Sometimes, we need to try to put ourselves in another person's shoes. We don't always know how *we'd* react under a given set of circumstances.

[petercrisssgirl]

10:26 PM on 09/11/2011

I know Alexandra, in this tough economy, stress levels are at an all time high. I do understand her frustrations and I don't agree with the over zealous punishment, way too harsh in my opinion. I think she could have been given a warning but not knowing 100% of what happened, I cannot say. That being said, we are each responsible for our actions and reactions. I agree with you, until we walk in the shoes of another but that doesn't excuse breaking the law either.

[lawgrace]

07:07 PM on 09/10/2011

At most places other than a library, I'd enjoy listening to babies. AIthough I seldom see it, I appreciate when library staff request overly noisy patrons to be quieter.

It's gotten out of hand how people speak loudly and on mobile phones. Not even headphones matter, when patrons RAP and sing out loud music they're listening to.

For some of us, concentration is significant to research and study. No one should have to refrain from public libraries because standards of quietness and courteousness are disregarded

I would have been grateful for library officials to remind Donnetta that other patrons are being distracted from their library purposes. I would be annoyed if Donnetta demonstrated unwillingness to consider fellow library patrons –all about her (not even all about baby).

Perhaps the stress of needing a job overtaxed her ability to be as rational as she otherwise would have been, and things spiraled out of control. Still, her issues should not have spilled out on others whose matters were as pressing or as important to them.

I don't think jail is helpful. Consequences yes –and probably she's paid enough if banned from the library, or harmed job chances. But it seems she hasn’t noticed. I interpret a ring of entitlement, rather than her regret for responding in a manner that caused her situation to get out of hand. . .Here’s pulling for Donnetta’s (like anyone else) lessons learned.

[simsum]

05:28 PM on 09/11/2011

"I interpret a ring of entitlement..."

Let them eat cake, right?

[rjcrews61]

02:33 PM on 09/10/2011

Okay then, all you Donnetta supporters, what do you suggest? Shut down the library to everyone except Donnetta and her "cooing" sweet little baby? Give her exclusive access to the Library and it's entire staff including security for as long as she wants? Or as long as it takes to fill the QUESTIONABLE J.O.B. application, at the taxpayer expense?? I do not hear anyone here who really is advocating a lenghty jail sentence (although I believe it might be the right thing myself). What then, if anything do you think would be appropriate punishment for her blatant disregard for others and the law?? Wait, I know, let's give her a slap on the wrist, send her home and forget about it......Until the next time she decides to "apply" for a J.O.B. and gets pissed off again....What do you think her next encounter with The Police will be like of she gets away with this incident......I wouldn't want to be the officer that has to deal with her, would you??..................Then, do away w the traffic courts, traffic patrol, school crossing guards, mall security, etc., etc.....because now we are not going to need them, bc according to you, we just won't cite people for not stopping at red light/stop signs, acting out in public, speeding down the road and running over children....According to you, we don't need any rules or laws, RIGHT???

[alexandra23]

06:07 PM on 09/11/2011

Oh get a life, rjcrew. Jail time for yelling at a security guard? No where is it indicated that this woman assaulted anyone. She yelled at him. While I agree that she needed to leave the library if her baby's laughter was disturbing others and that she should have controlled her reaction, to being told to leave the library. However, we're living in a country that gives pedophiles a slap on the wrist, and that hands down very questionable verdicts for baby killers, and yet you're here ranting about how horrible it was for some woman to lose her temper and yelled at a security guard? Jeez.

[Hesseth Ran]

01:23 AM on 09/12/2011

Seriously? Lengthy jail sentence because her toddler was laughing in the library? Then ridiculous exaggerations about running over children, which you seemingly lump in the same category with her "crime"?

First of all, get over yourself. Secondly, you might want to visit a library and check out a grammar handbook. I think anyone who subjects others to inane, half-illiterate rants deserves a "lengthy jail sentence."

[alexandra23]

03:22 PM on 09/12/2011

LOL

[rjcrews61]

05:06 PM on 09/12/2011

If the shoe fits, wear it.......and you know what?? it's just your size!! learn to read "ms I'm so grammatically correct"

[WJT1]

10:41 AM on 09/10/2011

I have a feeling all of this could have been settled peacefully if the lady had not: "became irate, yelling in a loud and boisterous manner."

Sorry but she should have been kicked out of the library. No one want to hear that.

[mmsuki]

02:09 PM on 09/10/2011

Agree 100%.
She needs to grow up and act like an adult.

[nikau nikau]

10:08 AM on 09/10/2011

Kicking a mother out over a 14 month old laughing too loud. That library security guard, or whoever decided to kick the woman out, must be the saddest, most pathetic individual on the planet.

I think we need a list of selfish, child haters to go alongside the sex offenders list, because children should be allowed to have fun without either of those pathetic types ruining it.

[yozampj]

02:34 PM on 09/10/2011

Yes, children should be allowed to have fun. There are playgrounds and a wide range of other places for children to have fun and make noise. The library is not one of them. Library patrons aren't 'child haters' just because they expect to have peace and quiet in a library, and library employees aren't 'child haters' when they uphold their duties to maintain peace and quiet.

[alexandra23]

04:03 PM on 09/10/2011

If the mother could not afford a babysitter while she used the library computer in an attempt to find a job, it is simply ludicrous that a "security guard" would throw her out of the library because her 14-month-old baby was laughing too loud. Surely, there must have been a better way to handle this situation. Not excusing the mother for becoming boistrous, but it is understandable that it is stressful to attempt to find a job while having to care for your child simultaneously and be admonished because your baby is laughing. Now this mother faces up to 12 months in jail because she lost her temper? Child molesters don't spend that much time in jail in some states in this country. This country's justice system is becoming a total joke.

[satanmademedoit]

05:52 PM on 09/11/2011

"That library security guard, or whoever decided to kick the woman out, must be the saddest, most pathetic individual on the planet."

or..oooor...it's a library and everyone should know to keep it down, right? maybe don't bring infants to the library...or a movie..or church services...there are plenty of places to take your kid to have fun...maybe we should just deal with everyone's noisy kids...i'm not a child hater, but i don't appreciate parents who disregard the people around them by letting their kids do whatever they want...kids should be taught when it s appropriate to make noise...it isnt fair to make the accusation that the security guard is sad or pathetic...he's there to keep things in line...make an effort to keep the kid quiet until you leave...very simple...

[aquarius2001]

09:39 AM on 09/10/2011

This is the most ridiculous story I've read all day. First of all...public libraries need to be glad people are still visiting them. Second...the whole library staff needs to be slapped for even getting all bent out of shape about a baby giggling. Third, for the cops to arrest her...un freaking believable! Especially when cops will respond to a domestic dispute and arrest no one, but will tell one person to just leave and go "cool off". But in this situation they felt this woman needed to be arrested? Ridiculous! Who took care of the baby when they arrested her? They should of told the library staff to babysit while the mother sits in jail!

[yozampj]

02:45 PM on 09/10/2011

Did you watch the video? Apparently the mother's behavior was outrageous enough for library staff to call police. And outrageous enough for the police to engage with her and try to calm her down. The mother's lawyer said that she wasn't arrested immediately when the officers arrived, but that she was arrested 8-10 minutes later. 8-10 minutes later??? She was still there and protesting the issue 10 minutes later -- and assuming it took the police 5 minutes (or more) to get to the library, the mother spent at least 15 minutes making an issue out of this, not counting the time she spent before the police were even called. I have the utmost sympathy for the struggle of a single mother trying to manage a little one (I was a single mother with two little ones), but I have no sympathy for a mother who cannot quiet her child and doesn't remove the child from an environment where other people are being disturbed. She had the choice of saying "Yes my child was making noise in the library, and no I can't stop the child from doing it, so I'll come back another time. Sorry for the disruption. Bye." People are not 'child haters' just because they expect peace and quiet at the library, and library staff are not 'child haters' when they do their job and try to maintain the peace and quiet.

[satanmademedoit]

05:58 PM on 09/11/2011

i think they asked her to leave and cool off..she obviously didn't feel like it...otherwise she may not have gotten arrested...people go to libraries for various reasons...all of which require consentration...why should anyone have to try to ignore some one else's kid? the mother may go to jail because she couldn't keep her mouth shut...it isn't a good idea to try to intimidate or yell at the police...if you don't want your kid to go without you for a year...shut up...or take the plea which she apparently isn't...i don't think she's thinking about what's good for her kid at this point...just being the one who's right...

[Riven]

01:07 AM on 09/10/2011

If the woman is jailed for a year, who is going to mother her giggling son?

[kencrn419]

08:56 AM on 09/10/2011

She won't serve any time, but she should certainly be fined and banned from the library.

[alexandra23]

06:16 PM on 09/11/2011

Yeah, that's right. Ban this mother from the library, where she was doing a computer search for jobs, so we can add another person (along with her 14-month-old baby) to the welfare rolls. Yeah, that's the ticket.

[satanmademedoit]

05:59 PM on 09/11/2011

ha! you were being funny right?

[Riven]

08:06 PM on 09/11/2011

I really wasn't being funny. When the legal system appears to be contemplating a year's jail sentence for a mother using a computer in a public library to try to find a job, I wonder if the legal system has, in fact, lost its mind. Who will take care of the child while the mother is in jail? The article mentions no father, just a happy little boy who may not be as happy if he's deprived of his mother for 12 months.

[Martha Riddle]

12:45 AM on 09/10/2011

We try to arrest a (black) mom who took her baby to the library and he laughed too loudly. (Yeah, I know, there could have been more to the story...) but yet we let free a mother (white) who alllegedly duct-taped her child's mouth and didn't report her missing for days, and the baby was found later, left for dead. But...uh....no racism here.

[satanmademedoit]

06:02 PM on 09/11/2011

ahhh the race card....soon it will be as outdated as the library itself...the jury in casey anthony's trial were incredibly saddened by the choice they had to make...they knew she was guilty...this has nothing to do with race....knock it off

[VanTroi]

12:08 AM on 09/10/2011

She isn't in trouble because her son was laughing, she is in trouble because she cursed out a cop. Sorry how is that racist? I still think jail time is not called for.

[MTer]

08:45 AM on 09/10/2011

Read the story and you will see it was not the court's actions to try to give her time. This person did not want to leave the library with a "warning", did NOT want plead "no contest" when given a warning and appearing in court, rather she ASKED for a trial just to prove a point, that being "no one was listening" to her, meaning the police on the scene, and thinking a jury might be more sympathetic towards her.

I got a traffic ticket in Atlanta 1 time, went to court because I thought I was in the right. When I learned if I plead not guilty and fight the charges (such as she has decided to do, to prove her point she says) I could either a) pay the $200 plus or b) have it heard by a jury or the judge, I used the best judgement and paid the fine. I have more to do with my time rather than spend it tied up in court actions. I had my choice and paid. She wants to prove she is in the right.