Probation for punching Cookie Monster

Associated Press

DOYLESTOWN, Pa. — A man who kicked, punched and knocked down a theme park worker dressed as Cookie Monster because she wouldn’t pose with his 3-year-old daughter was sentenced to a year of probation.

Lee McPhatter, 22, of Waldorf, Md., was convicted Wednesday by a judge of simple assault, disorderly conduct and harassment. He also was ordered to take an anger-management class.

Police said McPhatter flew into a rage June 9 when the employee at Sesame Place didn’t respond to his daughter’s request to have her picture taken with the character.

McPhatter, a student at The Citadel military college in South Carolina, called Jennie McNelis a "mean Cookie Monster," then punched her through the mouth of the costume, knocking her down, police said.

McPhatter and his girlfriend, Sabrina Quiroz, the child’s mother, testified that the 22-year-old theme park worker shoved their daughter several times, flung a paw in McPhatter’s face, then tripped.

The 3-year-old, Mina, testified before a judge that "Cookie pushed me in the face."

McPhatter had faced up to two years in prison.

"I’m satisfied. The guy didn’t deserve to go to Graterford prison, but the girl spent two months in physical therapy," Bucks County Assistant district attorney Robert Mancini said.

Copyright ©2001 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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