Woman avoids jail time in dispute about austistic son

JONESBORO - The mother of an autistic man has avoided jail time after being convicted of obstructing a Clayton County police officer. <br> <br> State Court Judge John Carbo fined 54-year-old Julia Munger $500 Friday and ordered her to perform 40 hours of community service. She also was given 12 months&#39; probation. <br> <br> The judge says the probation will be suspended after Munger pays the fine and performs the community service. Munger also is barred from the Publix grocery store where the altercation with the officer occurred for a year. <br> <br> Munger had contended she was trying to protect her son after police were called to the supermarket January 13 when 24-year-old Billy Munger started screaming obscenities from the men&#39;s room in the store. <br> <br> But a jury found her guilty last week. Jurors acquitted her on two other charges of battery. <br> <br> Munger could have been sentenced to up to two years in prison and a $2,000 fine.