Jacksonville mother Debra Hunter sentenced to 30 days in jail for intentional coughing


Debra Jo Hunter, 52, was sentenced to 30 days in jail on Thursday in Jacksonville

Debra Jo Hunter, 52, was sentenced to 30 days in jail on Thursday in Jacksonville

A Florida woman who went viral when she coughed on a customer at a Pier 1 store last year in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic has been sentenced to 30 days in jail.

Debra Jo Hunter, 52, was also ordered by a Jacksonville judge on Thursday to pay a $500 fine, serve six months probation and participate in a mental health evaluation along with anger management.

She was also ordered to cover the costs of the victim’s COVID-19 test, said David Chapman, communications director for the state attorney’s office in Jacksonville, in an email.

Hunter received credit for one day already served in jail. She was arrested last June after she was recorded deliberately coughing on the other customer during an argument with employees inside the store. 

On June 25, 2020, Hunter displayed the 'double bird' at a Pier 1

She hen warned 'I'll get real close to you and cough on you' before carrying out the threat

On June 25, 2020, Hunter (left) warned ‘I’ll get real close to you and cough on you’ before carrying out the threat (right)

Victim Heather Sprague (above) had begun recording Hunter's heated encounter with the employees, when Hunter spotted her and became further enraged

Victim Heather Sprague (above) had begun recording Hunter’s heated encounter with the employees, when Hunter spotted her and became further enraged

According to investigators, the victim, Heather Sprague, had begun recording Hunter’s heated encounter with the employees over an item return. 

Hunter saw her and made a rude gesture before walking up and saying she would cough on her. And then she coughed on her, an arrest affidavit said.

Sprague, who is being treated for a brain tumor, told the judge she spent days anxiously searching for a place where she and her family could be tested for the coronavirus. The tests ended up being negative, she said.

Hunter’s husband told the judge they had faced numerous hardships leading up to the incident, including losing everything they had in a house fire, FirstCoast News reported.

‘It was like air being inflated into a balloon, and it finally got to the point where she couldn´t handle any more air,’ Hunter´s husband said in court. ‘And then she finally rubbed up against something and just popped.’

Hunter told the judge her family has paid the price for her mistakes, adding that her children continue to lose friends, and that they don’t go out in their community anymore.

'I watch as my kids lower their heads and turn the opposite direction, so they won't be recognized or approached,' Hunter told the judge at sentencing (above)

‘I watch as my kids lower their heads and turn the opposite direction, so they won’t be recognized or approached,’ Hunter told the judge at sentencing (above)

‘I watch as my kids lower their heads and turn the opposite direction, so they won´t be recognized or approached,’ she told the judge. ‘And I know exactly what they’re feeling because I do the same thing.’

Sprague said the encounter left her stunned and fearful.

‘I worried for the health and safety of my children, and wondered how in the world I could possibly isolate to protect them – in a household of 12 – if I had been intentionally infected,’ she said.

She told the judge she believes there should be accountability for Hunter´s actions, which is why she chose to report the incident.

Duval County Court Judge James Ruth said that he is not on social media, and had not yet seen the full viral video of Hunter coughing in Sprague’s face as she filmed the tantrum. 

During sentencing, Sprauge testified that Hunter had displayed the ‘double bird’ hand gesture before intentionally coughing on her, a remark that appeared to surprise the judge.

During sentencing, Sprauge testified that Hunter (above) had displayed the 'double bird' hand gesture before intentionally coughing on her

During sentencing, Sprauge testified that Hunter (above) had displayed the ‘double bird’ hand gesture before intentionally coughing on her

‘OK, excuse me, a double bird?’ the judge asked. Ruth said that he wanted to see the video, which the prosecution then played for the court.

‘Oh my!’ Judge Ruth responded to the footage. ‘So that’s what you said? A double flip?’

‘I believe that’s what they call it your honor,’ Sprague said.

Before ordering jail time, Judge Ruth said he was struck by the fact that Hunter’s testimony focused less on how she may have harmed the victim and more on how her actions affected her own family.

‘Her children didn’t create this problem and her husband didn’t, and she talked about how it changed her world and she was getting nastygrams on Facebook and things of that nature and they can’t go to their country club or wherever,’ Ruth said. 

‘But I have yet to see any expression, or a significant expression on her regret about the impact it had on the victim in this case!’ the judge added.  

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