Minister fined for slapping reporters’ behind at a 5km run

A married youth minister who slapped the behind of a female reporter on live television in Georgia has been fined $1,000 and told to control his hands.

Thomas Callaway, 44 who pleaded guilty to the charge was participating in a 5km run when he performed the act and continued the race in a jiffy.

He was sentenced to a year probation and fined $1,000 by a Savannah judge who accepted his plea to misdemeanor sexual battery. The judge also ordered him to perform 200 hours of community service

Following his sentencing Tuesday, victim Alex Bozarjian told WSAV-TV outside the courtroom that she hoped Callaway would strive to ‘do better’ in future.

She said she decided to attend the hearing according to daily mail, to finally accept Callaway’s apology

A grinning Callaway, who was participating in the race, was seen running up behind Bozarjian and striking her hard, stunning the young reporter who stood motionless in shock for a number of seconds. The clip has since been viewed millions of times.

Callaway’s identity was unknown in the hours after the incident, but he later came forward to identify himself as the culprit.

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Bozarjian said while she understands the act has ‘probably disrupted his life more than he ever imagined, nobody has a right to touch anybody or slap anybody for their own amusement.’