You must be kidding. This guy is the stereotypical domestic abuser. He shouldn't just lose his job, he should be in jail. However, the statute of limitations has passed, so real justice won't be done.

The line between spanking and abuse isn't even fine, and yet he managed to step over it. If you condone this behaviour, or worse, engage in it, then you should do some careful introspection.

Exactly, if more of today's parents would give their kids what they really deserve we would not already have this entire entitlement generation that we have today. They are lazy, disrespectful, and undisciplined. Most of us over 40 use to get our butt beat when we deserved it. We grew up understanding the consequences for our bad actions. Today's generation doesn't have a clue. They don't want the rules but still want to live off mom and pop'sdollar. No one here is saying it is OK to abuse your child but disciplining them is a whole different thing. You can instill a sense of discipline in them while they are growing up or just do as most do today...just let the courts do it for you later.

I was spanked when I was a kid. I don't have a problem with spanking. This was a beating.

Big difference.

If anyone cannot tell the difference between discipline and beating out of anger, that person needs help. It takes love and intelligence to discipline without hitting.

I can understand a few spankings as discipline, but seriously, 7 minutes worth? That's completely excessive. By the way, traumatizing a kid for something as shrug worthy as downloading music/games is going to cause more problems down the road. Now, if it was drug-related I can understand the necessity, but seriously, I bet 99% of teenagers download the same things.

I sure as heck have, and I refuse to steal anything offline.

That's not a beating? Really? So you would (or do) do that to your children? I doubt that.

This was savage and uncalled for, especially in light of the fact that as a person with her form of cerebral palsy, ,she is weaker than average, with poor muscle tone, and probably suffers from poor balance and tremors. That he would beat a girl with that condition is sick.

Now here's the big question: was her cerebral palsy with her since birth or could it have been caused by beatings as an infant?

That is not discipline that is abuse. I went through the same kind of BS as a teenager with the encouragement of our "pastor". Spare the rod spoil the child? That is taken out of context and is used to condone the beating, abuse and sometimes murder of children. Anyone who looks at that and thinks there is nothing wrong is sick, twisted and needs help. If you would do that to your children be prepared for problems later on.

It brings back a lot of bad memories but I am glad she posted it so abusers can see how insane they look when they are enjoying themselves victimising someone smaller and powerless.

I love seeing the morally upright and so-called christians saying this is right and a good thing. It shows how completely and morally bankrupt many christians are in this country. It's disgusting. Honestly, if there were a rapture every one of these so-called christians would be left behind.

Lynchmob, the hypocrisy of your comment is wonderful. You state:

Exactly, if more of today's parents would give their kids what they really deserve we would not already have this entire entitlement generation that we have today. They are lazy, disrespectful, and undisciplined. Most of us over 40 use to get our butt beat when we deserved it. We grew up understanding the consequences for our bad actions. Today's generation doesn't have a clue.

Now I'd like to point out that the 40+ generation grew up under some of the best economic times this country has had. Their working prime was during the 90s boom. The boomers today are saying they are owed all their social security, whereas 70% of the melenials believe they won't see most of their social security. The wanton spending of the boomer generation has led to the current debt issues the melenials are going to have to clean up.

If the younger generation is pissed, its because the 40+ generations screwed thing up so badly.

AND SHE CALCULATINGLY SET THEM UP

Good for her! Repeated abuse needs to be exposed. Who would you believe without proof? A judge or some teenager?

Don't answer that. Your idea of discipline is battery.

Now go back to quoting the Bible as your justification for assault.

Not EVEN! that was not a spanking! that was a BEATING! and the language! I'm so thankful that my parents spanked me but they never beat me! They refused to spank me if they were angry, they'd wait until later. This "dad" is obviously Angry. He said he'd beat her into submission. and that he wanted to "get his lick in." If you're defending this guy I know you must violently beat your kids. I hope someone is monitoring this forum and finds you all. and on top of that, she's too old for spankings! so many things wrong. everyone shouldn't be allowed to raise children.

JS, even if she is as deceitful as you state, this would merely indicate that the guy is one serious failure as a parent.

Secondly, I don't care how manipulative a kid is, you don't beat the crap out of them.

Thirdly, the issue was over an illegal download... How much can she provoke him with that.

Fourth, the mother has corroborated that he was emotionally and physically abusive. Further the mother's activities are entirely corroborative of a domestic abuse household.

No, this guy is a creep. It is very common in society, and we just don't like seeing it because it's easier to close our eyes to reality.

Not a beating. Swatting someone once with might be a spanking but repeated hits with a belt over a 7 minute period is not ok.

Maybe you've never been whipped with a belt. I have, and I was an exceptionally well behaved child. Whenever something got broken or taken and no one would fess up to it, my dad would simply line us all up and start whipping us from the youngest to the oldest. (the oldest was my brother, the only boy, and usually the offender.) He would whip us with a belt from our calves all the way up to our shoulders. We were left with bruises, welts, and often times, lacerations. When it was my brother's turn for a spanking, he would fess up before getting hit, and then he and my dad would have a "man to man" talk.

There are other ways to discipline. I'm not saying I don't spank my own children, because I do, but only as a last resort. I have never used a belt and never will.

Did you watch the video? I tried and couldn't make it past the first minute. He was BEATING hero. That was abuse, not punishment.

It would be interesting to know how many people on here commenting actually have children and especially those that have teens at home.

I can't even stand to look at his face.

Sick and twisted man getting sadistic pleasure from beating his own daughter.

He probably had an erection while doing it.

This is not a man by any means he is a little boy with a big belt.

Q22

This is by no means meant to condone the father's actions but let's also consider the daughter's behavior. She completely disobeyed her parents. I am guessing that there are many other instances of her being willfully disobedient and going against the rules set up by the parents. In this particular case she committed a theft. It's clear she was warned ahead of time not to do this but she did anyway - even knowing the possible consequences (and maybe set the whole situation up). Parenting is difficult but parenting with oppositional kids is hellish. When they won't follow even the basic rules and flaunt their parent's authority it tests every fiber of control a parent has.

The father clearly has control issues that he needs to address but let's not completely exonerate the kid. Theft is a serious offense - especially when they have been repeatedly warned against it and do it anyway. She contributed to the situation she is now exploiting.

The child disobedience is not in question. She could have shoplifted, assaulted someone, dealt in drugs, etc. but you still don't beat down on your child. I'm not against spanking and never will be, but physical abuse is over the top and when people can't see the fine line of crossing over it, they are in need of serious help.

The biggest thing folks don't realize is that they don't have empathy. They can't put themselves in the other person shoes. When you do something like this to a person, it can leave serious emotional and psychological damage which at the extreme can lead to endangerment to others.

Eng,

You assume this is isolated. I think there is a history of oppositional behavior by this girl and I agree with JS that blackmail might be the motivating factor in the video release.

Also, pardon me if I think the mother's views are a bit self-serving. She definitely approved of the punishment - even getting her own lick in - and is trying to avoid responsibility by blaming her ex-husband.

Can't defend the guy - he has issues - but I am guessing there is more to this story than meets the eye.

This was NOT an isolated incident.

She stated this in the interview.

There is a big difference between beating a child and discipline. This was a beating. I don't think what this girl did was really that bad and warranted this response from her father. It was worthy of possibly grounding and I don't believe a 16 year old should be physically punished. Of course, there are exceptions and cases where you feel your teen is heading down a self-destructive path and as a parent you feel the discipline needs to be physical to prove a point...that is each parents choice. I personally, prefer to reason with my children. Sure, I am stronger and could exert my power but I believe my children are intelligent creatures who are capable of being reasoned with. As for spare the rod, spoil the child it doesn't mean use the rod with every single infraction. The rod could be consequences and should be used metophorically, not literally.

I don't know if I was more disgusted by the video or by the people saying what he did to his daughter was discipline and not out & out abuse !! Anyone who doesn't see this as abuse is CLEARLY emotionally and mentally disturbed and I hope to God none of you have children of your own! My children were a precious gift I am grateful for every day of my life... they turned out to be wonderful young adults without being subjected to angry, tyrannical outbursts by their parents. This is NOT discipline.... it's an angry madman who needs to be stopped and should have been jailed !!

I have no sympathy for the mother either. She is a spineless b***h who is blaming everyone else for her actions. She not only sat back and let it happen, she joined in and told her to "take it like a woman".
Sick F***'s... both of them.

This monster not only abused his own kids, he gives kids back to their abusers.

Q22, I never assumed this was isolated. She probably pissed him off regularly, and he beat her regularly. However, No matter how willful a child is, you don't go beating her. And you can't claim he just snapped, because to catch this on film means he was hitting her regularly.

As for blackmail, maybe she is. It doesn't matter, because he still is a monster. If I were being beaten by a sadist and had this as evidence I might use it as blackmail as well. He deserves it fully, and more.

the video could potentially result in Judge Adams' removal from the bench. A police investigation into whether the beating was criminal has been opened by the local police at the district attorney’s request.

being investigated by his buddies, that will go over well.

She defended her participation in the incident, saying that her husband's physical and emotional abuse had “brainwashed’’ her.

what a horrible cop-out

I think the story that’s going to come out in due time in his mind is that he has projected his problem on to me

yes, it's all about you isn't it

Judge Adams in the next election, which will take place in three years

people will forget by then

She didnt set them up.....she had got caught...and when they left to get the belt she turned it on

Although he was out of hand the children are getting out of control.

Simple solution. He should have just called the police and had her arrested for theft of music. Then she can go live in foster care and see if she even has internet.

Your child missuses her or his computer, you DISCIPLINE by TAKING THE COMPUTER AWAY. There is no need to beat a child. I've taken my daughter's PC away. She was only allowed to use her laptop in the living room for homework for a week. I was there and then when she finished her homework, I took it away.

Corporal discipline is the refuge of the lazy or ignorant. For instance, one of my nephews got suspended from school for fighting. What could have turned into a vacation day was transformed by my sister into a day of drudgery. She took a day off of work and stayed home with him. He spent the day washing every baseboard and window in the house. No music. Nothing but him and a bucket and rags. He worked from the moment he would have started school that day until he would have left school. He got to sit down for a half-hour for lunch. He never got suspended again.

You have to get creative and smart. Make the punishment fit the crime and never make a threat you aren't going to back up. By the way, you have to live what your preach. Don't want your kid to steal, then don't steal (even on your taxes). You want your kids to be respectful, then be respectful to them too. You want your kids to obey, then you had better darn well obey the law too. Children learn what they live and they can tell when you are a hypocrit.

And he wasnt punching her, kicking her, slapping her, sexaully assaulting her, so stop putting this guy in the same catagory as parents who actually abuse their kids.

No, he was WHIPPING her, with a belt. As much as he hit her, it would have left welts. If you don't know that by all definitions that is abuse, YOU need help.

yes punish not abuse. and if you thing uograding to belt is fine then you do not understand being a parent

The young woman did a public service for all citizens exposing the criminal behavior of a judge who is responsible for judging child cruelty cases. He is unfit to be a judge at all and needs to be stripped of his robes and his law license. His comments after the video went viral indicate anything but repentance. And it also exposes the sick mentality of people like commenter "Peel-Layer." Anyone who supports this abuser is out of line.

LC 288617 said that God said 'spare the rod, spoil the child'. Another "Biblical Scholar" who just writes his own verse. Samuel Butler said it in a poem, not God.

@Tam-3415368

No, he was WHIPPING her, with a belt. As much as he hit her, it would have left welts. If you don't know that by all definitions that is abuse, YOU need help.

I spanked my kids with my hand and never anything more than that. Now if you knew what I got spanked with, the belt was the best option for my brother and me. I DONT think it was abuse and I DONT need help. I learned from my dads few mistakes that I didnt need anything more than my hand to make my kids understand their screw ups.

If you have kids, good luck with them. If you dont, remember how righteous you are right now when the time comes that you go overboard and screw up with them. Please continue to be perfect.

The man is psychotic and should be removed from the bench immediately and disbarred. Shouldn't wait for the next election, but I disagree with person who posted above. I don't see anyone "forgetting in three years". Have you watched the video? I don't think I'll ever forget it.

@beenthere - Excellent point. Most people take this out of context. There is a passage similar to it in the Bible but what people forget is that shepherds never beat their sheep with the rod. The used it as a tool to guide, direct, and teach. Sheep were considered a valuable asset...just as our children should be.

There is always that bumper sticker you will never forget because it is so true. The one that comes to mind for me is "Jesus save me from your followers"! I live in the heart of the Bible Belt and I know first hand that those who profess loudest their status as Christians and wear it on their sleeve for all the world to see are for the most part people who act entirely unchristian! For them believing that they are saved verges on a sense of delusional entitlement... nearing the grandiose with the added kick, mean spirtitdness to their fellow man of the presumption that you and others are not. These people can justify anything because they have a free pass!

This kid should have been punished by taking away here computer rights, taking the door off her bedroom with no privacy. grounding here, no phone privileges, she is little old to be spanking/beating/whatever, and the Judge should have known that. Wow, i'm gay and no how to punish a kid better than most you people. Stupid Breeders. I love family values. What a punch of Bs.

Funny, If she committed theft, that he admonished her for. Maybe a bit over the edge, but, SHE got off easy. Judges Daughter, busted for theft. Thrown in Jail. Hand in hand with (Teenage prisoners- who can't be tried as adults for heinous felonies some of whom were probably sentenced by the same judge-her father) yes, she got the belt, and she obvoiusly is ok now at 23, some child hood scars, but I cannot even imagine what would have happened if he had just said ok, Face the consequences of the system instead of a belt whooping from her father(again it might have been excessive, not rodney king excessive) she got off relatively easy.

The next time a 16 year old living at home commits a murder, I hope that those of you complaining that this is (abuse) are the first ones to jump in and blame the parents for their lack of discipline.

I do agree that the hand works much better than the belt or a (switch- if your old enough to have that used on you). Again, someone wants to blame all the boomers for everything that went wrong, but lets look at what they were told they couldnt do, even to their own children in times of correction and discipline, and then realize It is really the GEN Xers, who cringe when they feel their past beatings every time they see a poor spoiled tatoo multi-piercing foul mouthed lazy weed smoking lazy a$$ on a $300 smart phone child raising another child, because we didn't really believe our parents had it right, and that we knew better. Well here we sit in our own pile of SHIP and blame Bush(Either one), or Obama, or Clinton (either one) for how bad everything is and how entitled we are to what everyone else earned.

Go figure?

Mr R. She could have been liable for statutory damages of up to $150K. This is a lot of money, but only a handful of cases against people ever occur.

Given the scope of her activity, she would not have been liable for any criminal charges; hence no jail time. Her dad, being a judge, was fully aware of the repercussions.

To those of you at the beginning of this thread saying "she deserved 'punishment' because she was doing something illegal," remember this was in 2004! I'm the same age as this girl, and everyone that was high school aged, and probably older, was downloading their music then. The Napster lawsuits had only happened a couple of years before, and the people getting in trouble weren't the ones downloading, they were the ones distrubuting. Most people didn't even know at that time that downloading music was illegal, I certainly didn't.

I'm not even going to respond to some of these other comments. Obviously there are some messed up people in this world. I'm glad the woman released the video, and I hope this judge didn't screw up too many cases due to his bad temper and obvious lack of judgement.

Ah, got a provocateur post right out of the box.

I'm the same age as this girl, and everyone that was high school aged, and probably older, was downloading their music then.

PPPPPPleeeeeaaaassse!!!!

I see you haven't grown up yet! "Everyone is doing it," excuse! In 2001, the courts decided that downloading music from companies like Napster as ILLEGAL and some have been hit with over a $1 million in fines.

http://articles.cnn.com/2009-06-18/justice/minnesota.music.download.fine_1_jury-instructions-fined-sheryl-crow?_s=PM:CRIME

When you "children" were 16 years old, who do you think was going to be legally responsible for that bill???? Huh?

Your parents!!!!

The girl deserved to get her behind tanned!!!

Better to get it from your parents than from BIG BUBBA or BERTHA in J-A-I-L!!!

"For instance, one of my nephews got suspended from school for fighting. What could have turned into a vacation day was transformed by my sister into a day of drudgery. She took a day off of work and stayed home with him. He spent the day washing every baseboard and window in the house. No music. Nothing but him and a bucket and rags. He worked from the moment he would have started school that day until he would have left school. He got to sit down for a half-hour for lunch. He never got suspended again."

@differnet

I'm curious: what is your solution if the child/teen just throws down the rags & bucket, tells you to go f*** yourself, and walks out the door?

Really. I'm curious.

Wow, i'm gay and no how to punish a kid better than most you people. Stupid Breeders. I love family values. What a punch of Bs.

No doubt had to skip journalism class this morning to get your post in. Wow, you're gay and can't craft a grammatically correct sentence. Couldn't resist. You know how us "stupid breeders" are.

I cannot believe anyone can look at the video and not equate it with abuse. That is very concerning.

Kids will misbehave. Kids do not 'get' the impact of the internet. What if the parent acted like an adult and simply removed the computer? Eliminated her internet access? Cut her phone privileges for the next week on top of eliminating the internet? I am talking about rational behavior, he was not behaving rational.

He used her misbehavior as an excuse for his rage. I cannot imagine if he had a real problem child!

Anyone that thinks beating her with a belt is an acceptable form of punishment needs some time on the coach. Discipline is supposed to teach lessons, not fear and terror. If he smacked her on the rear end one time with his hand to get her attention when she was irrational, I could almost let it go. But 7 minutes of hitting her with a belt was for his benefit.

I was not hit. I have not robbed a bank, did not do drugs or anything else. But I realize I cannot compare myself to others as everyone is different. Having a child that is oppositional, I can tell you from experience that the best results are when we are willing to invest our time to enforce a reasonable punishment, removal of privileges. That means I have to supervise him to ensure he does not 'sneak' the privilege. I have to go to the extent of turning off the phone, removing the cables from the TV and computer. I call it parenting. What this guy did was assualt.

I'm not attacking; I'm really curious.

Anybody can answer. :-)

Jodeman,Sounds like you and I were raised by the same type of folks. I saw the video and all I saw was a man whipping his daughter's butt for stealing. It wasn't until I read the article that I saw it was for illegal downloading, but hey, stealing is stealing.

Interesting all the posters calling for this guys head. AND telling everyone on this post that if they agree with that type of discipline, they are unfit parents. I've been around for almost half a century (turn 50 in March) and it never ceases to amaze me how some people like to tell others how to do this or that, not knowing that person or where they come from or what they have lived. And they talk about being ignorant?

Hey folks, take off the rose colored glasses. We do not live in a perfect world, and not everyone gets blessed with perfect children. Some of us actually have raised or will raise little hellions. Teaching them that there are consequences to everything they do is sometimes not as easy as a time out. I guess no one here realizes that if this girl is not taught from the get that stealing is wrong, she would do it again thinking she can get away with it. Next thing you know, she's serving time in jail. Hmmmm, let me see, getting my butt beat for stealing or go to jail and get gang raped every day I'm in there. What a decision! I think I'll take the ass whipping thank you.

"Anyone that thinks beating her with a belt is an acceptable form of punishment needs some time on the coach."

No thank you; Most coaches are ugly.

Thirty or forty years ago, this is the way most parents dealt with unruly children....a good old fashioned ass whoopin. The public schools handled kids the same way. But now we've become a nation of tattletale pansies. Kids run amok, schools and teachers are paralyzed, parents are lazy and don't discipline. And what is the result of all of this? Look at the Occupy America crowd and you'll see the answer.

U dont say:

The falacy here, is that if you are employing the appropriate forms of punishment early, your kids recognize your authority, and do not want your disapproval. My kids know that a punishment must be followed or another will happen.

And even worse, no matter how angry they get with us, once they calm down they are very concerned that they did something that made me or their mom disappointed. This is the true way a good parent molds the child's behaviour.

This kind of parenting cannot be employed and work once the relationship had been soured and reached the extreem you illustrated. Instead, it prevents the scenario you described from ever happening.

"it prevents the scenario you described from ever happening."

No, I'm sorry. It doesn't.

Teen in question was never spanked; He was talked to; Wasn't rebellious until he became a teen. Mom is 5"5' & 110lbs; Dad is 6 feet tall & over 200 lbs. Teen is 6"2' & 200 lbs of solid muscle (he can pick up Mom with one arm). When teen was in grade school & junior high, dad could control him with speaking his name (in a certain tone) & giving him "that look". Now, he's 16 & thinks he knows-it-all.

So again I ask: what is the solution? A parent gives punishment & the teen tells them to go f*** themselves & storms out.

What is the solution?

Have you a bit of a cooling off period for starters. Let him head on out that door. While he's gone, you can gather up some of his stuff (stuff he paid for with his money?) and pack it up and set it next to the door, inside. When he does return, you need to have a chat. *(readers digest version here) If things can't get worked out, there's his stuff, and there's the door. If you have ANY kind of relationship with your child, you'll open diaogue. There's something disturbing about a cool, calm parent, who is ready to send you on your way.If that doesn't work, stuff/door. Even if he does leave, he'll want to talk soon.

Exactly, EngEsq. Kids who grow up with proper discipline, do not NEED to be beaten with a belt for seven minutes at sixteen. You use the old, "Take the privileges away" form of discipline and it works. I have a sixteen-year-old myself and I would NEVER do that, nor do I need to. She knows......her dad and I giveth and we taketh away. Works fine for us but we have a good relationship with her. We do not need to terrorize our kids. This guy has issues and should NOT be on the bench making decisions for other people's kids.

BTW, I'm not saying that's "The Solution", but you have to start somewhere.

@Lloyd

Thank you for responding.

In my state, parents are responsible for their kids until they reach 18.

In other words, if he is allowed to leave & gets into legal trouble, it comes back on the parents.

It's not right; It's just the way it is.

I saw another set of parents who took the "let him leave" attitude.......the teen was picked up for shoplifting food and because he was under age, the parents had to go to court over it. They were fined. THEY were fined. The teen did not even get comm. serv. When the father asked the judge what he can LEGALLY do to control his son, the judge simply said "That's not MY problem".

(sigh)

@U don't Say

If this happened to me, I would have my teen served with notice of eviction. Change the locks. Call the police. Divorce my child. Children can divorce parents so parents should be able to divorce kids like that. Tell the teen when he decided to obey MY HOUSE rules in MY house, then he could return to the easy life of living with Mom and Dad. Tough love hurts everyone but is the best medicine for the offender.

I'm curious: what is your solution if the child/teen just throws down the rags & bucket, tells you to go f*** yourself, and walks out the door?

You could probably start by taking away her computer and camcorder. Then, you gradually escalate the punishment. Maybe you end up with a physical punishment when other options fail, but it seems like she still had her toys when the parents jumped straight into the beatdown.

@ Angela

Thank you for responding.

THIS might actually be an option.

Wow, this country has gone soft. God help us all. You have no idea what actions led up to the beating. Lots of people get whippings when they're children. She simply hates her father and wants to embarrass him, end of story.

It did happen to me when I was 15. However, I left.

This discussion was informative. My thanks to all.

Peace!

Just one more thing: Concerning Lloyd leaving at 15: it's different when you are male. Females usually (not always but, usually) end up working street corners when they leave young.

Sad, but true.

Peace!

@U don't say - I have an oppositional 16 yr old. I had her at 19 and my mother was the female version of Judge Adams. I started off my parenting with spanking in my tool belt but it never set well with me. Last year, my daughter was frustrated about something else and I was asking her a question. She told me to 'shut the eff up'. (She used the real word). I have had her tell me she hates me, she can't wait to move out, etc. and I've never lost my cool. Sometimes I go in the backyard and cry out of frustration but I realize that I know my child, I know she is good, and I know she loves me. I don't let the words wound my ego. After I was told to shut the eff up, I turned around and walked downstairs. I knew eventually she'd come to me and we'd discuss it. Sometimes it's better to let a child who is frustrated calm down because they won't be able to think rationally and things will only escalate if you push them. Alot of people view that as defeat. It was probably within 30 minutes that she walked down stairs and apologized to me and we talked about it. We also talk about how she can handle the situation the next time. I think you just have to stay the course with love and reasoning and eventually you'll see the results. I do believe in consequences and taking things away. Best of luck to you!

I was spanked as a kid so I have no issues with spankings. On one occasion I was actually beat so I know the difference. A spanking is controlled short and only exerts enough force to get the kids attention. It should never leave marks or continue of and on for 8 minutes! It is usually followed or preceded by an explanation of why a spanking is needed and followed by reassurance that the child is loved. This video refelects an angry man out of control who was venting his frustration on his kid. Definitely not ok to vent your frustrations on a kid! It qualifies as abuse.

If this were a cop who had taken off his belt and was beating a perp for 8 minutes and was caught on tape wouldn't we find that outrageous? Just because it's his admittedly disobedient daughter doesn't make it ok.

But here we have parents who have done nothing wrong, only disciplining their rebellious child.
AND SHE CALCULATINGLY SET THEM UP. She is evil.

She couldn't have "set them up" if they hadn't done anything wrong. What would she be setting up if they had not been abusing her?

That daughter should be ashamed of herself. Just goes to show what this world is coming to.

No anyone who says this is anything less than a beating should be ashamed of themselves. If she was 11 would it be abuse? How about if she were 5? 2? Children should be disciplined no doubt but this was not discipline. It was abuse. On top of that it wasn't an isolated incident!

U don't say,

Given proper parenting the situation you describe are exceeding rare. It sounds like the boy who suddenly turned rebellious has medical issues to contend with, because sudden personality changes do not occur unless something is wrong (such as the onset of depression).

Often a sudden personality change is due to some other factor such as bullying, sexual assault, or chemical dependency. If your mild mannered teen has this kind of overnight shift in personality I would look for root causes and get professionals involved early.

john-98241

oh no...! John your comments suggenst that you believe todays youth has decided that being abused is normal if that person can provide the internet.

Somewhere, somehow you have been mislead. No child would take a beating like this just to use a computer.....maybe third world...but it thats the case...is that what america has become, were just putting on a great face for the media?

scare me

What she's not telling is how she knew he was going to hit her - Can youi say "set up"?

The dad shouldn't have touched her. He was mad at her because she had repeatedly broken the law via illegal downloading and she knew she had gone too far. Instead of hitting her, he should have turned her over to the authorities. At 16, she's considered an adult - He should have let her face adult consequences for her actions.

Again - I think she set the whol ethin up. Ohterwise how would she have "known" he was going to beat her?

LC stated:

"What a load of crap.
She was not being beat as disturbing.

Her father was disciplining her. She broke the law and God says spare the rod spoil the child."

God says? Wow, I bet if Jesus came back tomorrow, and if he didn't look like the Jesus your good book talks about, you would be the first in line to help put him on a cross, wouldn't you? Oh, by the way, please show proof that God actually said that.

It is one thing to be upset at a child for doing something wrong and discipline them, but to totally go off the deep end and hit them with a belt over and over again means this judge was a walking time bomb, and needs to be first, locked up, then needs therapy.

STEVENS that is why the world hate your generation so much...

You did not get ya butt whipped as a kid!!!!

Most of you guys think your kids are angels and can't do any wrong.
For the most part some kids don't need whippens like that.
But, some do!!!!

Like I said STEVENS deal with your kids at home because they don't want to deal with people who aren't going to have the patience to teach them the lessons that you failed to teach them!!!!!

A whippen allows for them to live another day!!!!!

Then you crazy people disagee with whippens but, you will have black people locked up all across this country!!!

No, Ya need ya butts whipped!!!!
For that non caring sociaopaths that live a reality created by lunatics!!!!!

The dad used the same punishment tactic that the preacher in the Westboro Baptist Church uses (you know, the soldier protest church). You whip a child on the leg, so it wrap around and snaps at the back of the leg... where the nerves are. After a few hits, the skin swells and splits into an open wound. That way, when you walk for the next week, you continue to feel the wounds as it heals.

I'm glad to see so many Christians on here, upholding the "spare the rod" Biblical quote, and supporting this behavior. Further proof that modern Christians are becoming more and more like the Westboro Baptist Church. You people make me sick.

How dare we think our judges should show some judgement, or that our representatives should represent us.

sorry joe.. the statute of limitations on theft is 7 years. its been that long since the video was recorded. sounds even more fishy to me.

I will however agree this is not a punishment, it was abuse. I also see that the girl brought on a whipping and acted out to increase it and use it to do what ever she wanted with it later.

The bible does say to spare the rod and spoil the child. The difference is that when you go past a certian point it starts being abuse.

Here you go folks. If this ends up being true than it wasnt revenge she was seeking, it was greed. Now this is just his side but there are two and so far, everyone has been kicking him for what she has said. Like I said before, I feel sorry for this family.

And I feel sorry for this country.

“If the public must know, just prior to the YouTube upload, a concerned father shared with his 23-year-old daughter that he was unwilling to continue to work hard and be her primary source of financial support, if she was going to simply ‘drop out’ [from college] and strive to achieve no more in life than to work part time at a video-game store,” said the statement released by Adams’ attorney, William A. Dudley.

Read the full statement here

“Hillary warned her father if he reduced her financial support, and took away her Mercedes automobile, which her father had provided, he would live to regret it. The post was then uploaded.”

Spare the Rod and Spoil the Child?

This popular verse cannot be found in the Bible because it’s neither a Bible verse nor a Biblical principle. It’s like that other non-Biblical verse, “The Lord helps those who help themselves” in that it’s quoted by people who know little or nothing about the Bible to elevate certain kinds of behavior from mere human tradition to spiritual truth.

So where does it come from? Well it turns out that it’s from a 17^th century poem by Samuel Butler called “Hudibras”. In the poem, a love affair is likened to a child, and spanking is commended as a way to make the love grow stronger. The actual verse reads,

“What medicine else can cure the fits

Of lovers when they lose their wits?

Love is a boy by poets styled

Then spare the rod and spoil the child.”

The idea was that the absence of periodic spankings in the relationship will spoil it. Further on in the poem, women are said to desire a good spanking more than an assortment of lovely ribbons. But the practice of spanking is much older the 17^th Century poem. It first came on the scene as a pagan fertility rite in ancient Greece. Women who were unable to conceive went to the temple of Juno where the priests of the Greek god Pan spanked them with goat hide whips in an effort to increase their fertility. A search on the Internet will reveal that throughout history spanking has been primarily associated with erotica.

Much later, the Catholic Church used spanking as a means of cleansing women of their sins. But whether for erotic reasons or as a form of punishment, the person being spanked was always an adult and always a willing participant. The notion of spanking children who were neither adult nor willing emerged in Victorian times, no doubt as an expansion of the Catholic tradition of punishment for sin.

What Does The Bible Say?

With that introduction, let’s take a look at what the Bible does say about spanking, or more appropriately, the proper disciplining of children. Probably the closest verse to our title is Proverbs 13:24 “Whoever spares the rod hates his son, but he who loves him is diligent to discipline him.” The Hebrew word for rod in this proverb describes a scepter or staff. A scepter was a large ornately carved staff that was a symbol of authority. The first time the word appears is in Genesis 49:10.

“The scepter will not depart from Judah, nor the ruler’s staff from between his feet, until he comes to whom it belongs and the obedience of the nations is his.”

It was the symbol of tribal authority in the same way that “the White House” stands for the US Government’s authority. In fact of the 190 times the word is used in the Old Testament it’s translated “tribe” in 140 of them. Other times it’s translated rod, club, shaft or truncheon. The point is that it wasn’t just a little switch that a dad could pick off a tree to give his errant son a light whipping. It was a huge and heavy club. Are we to believe that God wants a father to club his son into submission? Of course not.

While we’re at it, let’s take a look at the word translated discipline in Proverbs 13:24. It appears 50 times and 38 of those it’s translated instruction or correction. It’s never translated punish.

So remembering that we’re talking about a proverb where things are often symbolic, and that the rod symbolizes authority, we should interpret this one as follows: “Whoever fails to exercise his parental authority hates his son, but he who loves him is diligent to instruct and correct him.” It’s a warning to fathers that as the heads of our households it’s our responsibility to instruct and train our children. Our failure to do so is a sign that we don’t love them.

When the Plain Sense makes Common Sense …

Some advocates of spanking children point to Proverbs 23:13 for justification. It says: Do not withhold discipline from a child; if you punish him with the rod, he will not die.

The problem here is that they switch from a literal to an allegorical interpretation in mid sentence because a strict literal reading doesn’t make sense. The rule of interpretation is that when the plain sense of a verse makes common sense, seek no other sense. Does beating someone with a rod prevent them from dying as a literal interpretation of this proverb requires us to believe? The plain sense does not make common sense. In addition, the word translated child here is more frequently translated youth or servant. In Israel if you beat your servant with a rod and he did die, you were guilty of murder. (Exodus 21:20) If beating was a guarantee that the recipient would not die, why the law?

While many well intended people take the first half of the verse literally, the concept of dying is almost universally interpreted to be the spiritual death of a sinner even though the Hebrew word describes a physical death in every one of its 835 appearances. So why not be consistent and use the allegorical interpretation from Proverbs 13:24 to interpret Proverbs 23:13? If we do the verse would read: Do not withhold instruction from your child: if you discharge your responsibility as a father and correct him, you can save him from spiritual death.

To prove that Proverbs are not always intended to be taken literally, the first two verses of Proverbs 23 say:

“When you sit to dine with a ruler, note well what is before you, and put a knife to your throat if you are given to gluttony.”

Does this mean that anyone who overeats should slit their own throats? Of course not. The plain sense doesn’t make common sense. This is always the sign that we should seek an allegorical interpretation.

Here are two more examples. Proverbs 23:5 says: Cast but a glance at riches, and they are gone, for they will surely sprout wings and fly off to the sky like an eagle. Obviously allegorical.

And Proverbs 23:17: Do not let your heart envy sinners, but always be zealous for the fear of the LORD. Makes sense as it is. Take it literally.

You might ask, “Are we supposed to dart back and forth from a literal interpretation to an allegorical one on a verse by verse basis? My answer is that especially in the Proverbs we should read each verse to determine if the plain sense makes common sense. If it does then we seek no other sense. But if it doesn’t then a word study such as we’ve done above will help us find the true intent of the verse. Thankfully, we don’t have to do this with every book in the Bible, but there’s a reason why the Proverbs are part of the so-called Wisdom Books. They’re meant for study and meditation to help us acquire not just knowledge but wisdom.

What’s The Point?

But let’s not lose sight of the point here, which is to show that the Bible is not as clearly in favor of corporal punishment as some would like you to believe.

The situation in Biblical Israel can tell us volumes about how God intended for families to work, and it’s hard to describe how different that is from our experience. There were two strong relationships at play and together they became the foundation of the civilization. The first was their relationship with God and the second was the family. They wer

This is only one of thousands of sites that say the same thing so all you good "Christians" that are saying the bible say this verse really don't know chit about the bible!

They were inexorably intertwined. This promise from Deut. 7:12-15 will show you what I mean.

If you pay attention to these laws and are careful to follow them, then the LORD your God will keep his covenant of love with you, as he swore to your forefathers. He will love you and bless you and increase your numbers. He will bless the fruit of your womb, the crops of your land—your grain, new wine and oil—the calves of your herds and the lambs of your flocks in the land that he swore to your forefathers to give you. You will be blessed more than any other people; none of your men or women will be childless, nor any of your livestock without young. The LORD will keep you free from every disease.

Because of this promise, when they were faithful to Him there was health, prosperity, and peace. Peace in their nation, peace in their communities, and peace in their families. Families functioned because they prayed together and worked together. Everyone had a job to do and everyone did it. Children honored their parents, not because it was commanded, but because parents deserved it. Fathers provided for their families and instructed their sons. Mothers kept their home and instructed their daughters. Both parents held the Lord in high esteem and taught their children His way. They all worked together as a team and the Lord blessed their work. There was a mutual respect between parents and children that made the parents want to instruct and the children obey. Even as grown men sons did not lightly ignore their fathers’ counsel, nor grown daughters their mothers’.

This mutual respect didn’t require the artificial application of contrived punishment, or even the threat of such. That’s why the Hebrew word for discipline is translated instruction or correction but never punishment. After all, the root word for discipline is disciple, which means student. A course of study is often called a discipline. When did it begin to mean punishment?

Because they knew that life came from the Lord, there was no thought that children were born with intentions of evil and had to have it beaten out of them. That came with the Catholic Church and the Victorian Era. Through example and instruction Hebrew men “tamed” their boy children and turned them into men who could also set an example. Since the Lord held the father responsible for the sins of his children there was ample motivation on their parts to do this. (I’m told that in the Bar Mitzvah ceremony where a boy becomes a man, the father’s prayer is, “Lord thank you for giving me this son, and thank you for relieving me of any further responsibility for him.”)

In his two direct comments about a father’s role in his children’s lives Paul was no doubt drawing from his own Jewish upbringing when he wrote, “Fathers, do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord.” (Ephes 6:4) and Fathers, do not embitter your children, or they will become discouraged. (Colossians 3:21)

In summary then, the notion of inflicting physical punishment on children can’t be supported Biblically. Spanking began as a pagan activity steeped in eroticism, and was brought into the church as a punishment for sin during a time when the Church had forgotten that Jesus was punished for our sins. But even then it was related to sin, not behavior that’s arbitrarily labeled by parents as bad, when it’s often only a reflection of their incompetence as teachers. It has done untold emotional and psychological damage and is in direct conflict both Old and New testament doctrine.

Sorry it did not post all the way the first time.

My mom used to beat me like that as far back as I can remember. She often used a thick rubber strap. I look back now and realize how horribly abusive she was. I would go to school with welts on the backs of my legs and I would see teachers noticing them, not one adult came to my rescue. I can barely stand to see or speak to my mother to this day. SHE IS A DEVOUT CHRISTIAN and spouts scripture daily, WHAT A HYPOCRITE!!!

I think you mean professes to be devout...

I relate.

Jay, thank you for restating what I have said a couple times regarding "spare the Rod". Perhaps your expanation will get through to people where mine has not.

Too bad corporal punishment is no longer allowed. If I had a nickel for everytime I was hit with a belt I would be a rich man. If neighbors caught you, they would beat you, then the parents. It worked.

Kids today know they can use the law against their parents for punishing them because they refuse to have respect for anyone or anything. Just look at most of the violent criminals. Most are kids who were raised by kids. They respect nothing and blame everyone except themselves.

If I was that father, I would make sure she never got another dime she didn't earn.

I do agree that whipping is not necessary in most cases. Mind games work well most of the time. It is obvious this girl is a spoiled brat. Taking away all privelages and toys until they are earned is a great form of punishment for spoiled brats. Depending on your parents when you are 23 and still disrepecting them, and then getting cut off is what she deserved and it was out of her lack of respect that she will be living in a box. Her choice. Sleep tight.

MOST violent criminals were abused as children (86%) per baltimorecounty.gov. So your theory is not valid.

@EngESQ Sorry for my slow response. Im not sure which state you live in so your specific laws may differ. Illegal Downloading is Copyright infringement. It is both CIVIL and CRIMINAL and holds both penalties and damages (PER DOWNLOAD) in each case. When I state that She could have been brought to trial, and charged by a DA, and subsequently her father (or the owner of the Computer which she was using).

Again I agree that It might have been excessive beating, but she still got the Lighter sentence (from her father vs the Court System)

www.ehow.com/about_6671459_penalty-downloading-music-illegally.html

The convenience of downloading music from the Internet without spending a dime may tempt music lovers, but the penalty for illegal downloading is severe. Illegal downloaders and distributors could face hefty fines or stints in prison for stealing copyrighted material.

its.eiu.edu/illegaldownloading.php

www.webster.edu/technology/downloading.shtml

Legal & Monetary

Most of us don't have over half a million dollars lying around the house. But, if you download files which you have not paid for or share files without the permission of the copyright holder, you just might have to pay that much.

Under the Digital Millennium Copyright Act, distribution of copyright materials is punishable by law. Those found guilty of copyright infringement may face the following penalties:
Up to five years in jail
Fines and charges of up to $150,000 per file
In addition to any other charges that might be brought against you, the copyright holder can file suit, which can result in legal fees and damages that must be paid.

Recent cases have resulted in judgments against the person distributing the files for up to $80,000 per file. Here are some examples:
"A federal jury on Friday concluded that a 25-year-old college student must pay $675,000 — or $22,500 for each of the 30 songs he was found liable of infringing" (Wired.com).
In Minnesota, Jammie Thomas-Rasset, a single mother, was fined $80,000 for each of 24 songs, resulting in a total of $1,920,000, almost 2 million dollars.

Article Source: msnbc.com
from:msnbc.com
Daughter in beating video: Why I released it

Seeded on Thu Nov 3, 2011 8:43 AM CDT (msnbc.com)

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Montanagirl4evaRestored

Give me a BREAK!!!!!!!!!! He was not BEATING her, and it was not a whip, it was a belt. Seriously, why do people take it so out of context. A parent has a right to spank their child. I would not personally spank my 16 year old, but losing his job because of disciplining his daughter? RIDICULOUS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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• !

#1 - Thu Nov 3, 2011 8:49 AM CDT

EngEsq

This montanagirl undoubtedly beats her own children and was undoubtedly beaten as a child or maybe even is being abused as an adult to the point that she believes she deserves to be abused and likewise her children deserve to be abused.

Yes, the daughter was wrong for downloading the music, but the punishment FAR, FAR outweighs the crime. Adults who are mentally healthy and in control of their own actions don't beat another person with a strap for 7 minutes while their victim screams. This isn't a spanking. This is a BEATING.

One thing that's kind of scarey about this judge is that he looks so kind and normal.

OH

Lloyd-812061

Wow, i'm gay and no how to punish a kid better than most you people. Stupid Breeders. I love family values. What a punch of Bs.

No doubt had to skip journalism class this morning to get your post in. Wow, you're gay and can't craft a grammatically correct sentence. Couldn't resist. You know how us "stupid breeders" are.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

why yes i do know how breeders are. And you got suckered with my post and made a comment. I musta hit a nerve. HAHA

This young lady was 16 at the time. She was old enough to have a bady. I think that makes her to old to be spanking. I love that the mom, the sweet dear mom was standing there with her own belt to share in the beating. . I love family values.

ENGESQ, wow, now I have heard everything....Blaming the economy for lack of parental control or endorsing it for positive parental control??? So I guess this situation is Obama's or bush's fault. WTF man! get real.

Never will any serious person endorse child cruelty but, every sane person will support bringing up your children to understand and respect the rules of life. None of us were there or really know the whole story and what went behind this lone scenario for setting it up. But, just because you believe in discipline, does not mean you endorse cruelty in any manner. generally speaking, today's youth need much more discipline and a respect for authority be it the authority of the parent, another adult, humanity, the law, or themselves. We will never get there with this continuing decline in expectations of our children due to political correctness.

If neighbors caught you, they would beat you, then the parents. It worked.

hey bob, if any "neighbors" lay a hand on my kid, they are the ones that are going to get beaten, then imprisioned.

The love/hate relationship between a beaten child and sick parents and sibling is very, very complicated.

And more common than people think anindividual.

Imagine this same judge is quoted as saying "children are fantasizer's who shouldnt be believed."

Imagine how many children were being tortured and this judge refused to listen and put these children back with the same abusive parents.

He is a true coward and bully. They go hand and hand.

Human Filth and nothing more.

The man is psychotic. He should be removed from the bench and disbarred immediately. I'm glad he will finally get what's coming to him. Anger management anyone? If only he could be jailed.

Whoa. Someone posted (before it was collapsed) that people will forget by the next election 3 years from now. Have you watched the video? I'll never forget it.

You go, Hillary.

Poor kid, with CP, really couldn't even just run away from home. That's what my peers did, back in the day. A teen girl runaway is just out of the frying pan and into the fire.

Jodeman, there are ways to talk to another person when you disagree with something someone has said and that was not it.

I would seriously question this judge's work practice and investigate whether he has been more lenient to parents who are accused of abuse under the guise of discipline. This would be a justifiable and valid concern.

Krestov, you are correct. I shouldnt have used the word idiot with AndyBlue. My point I was trying to make is that AndyBlue appears to be spreading lies and hateful gossip unless he/she actually has proof that this judge has turned a blind eye to kids being tortured. If so, the AndyBlue needs to speak to the authorities about the evidence he/she has. However, I am willing to be that AndyBlue is talking out their @$$ and just making crap up. And that isnt helping a already bad situation at all.

And to Claudia-3022522, the judge probably did let his emotions, personal beliefs guide his decisions. Dont you? Or do you follow the closet pied piper and do what they tell you to do because your personal beliefs are dictated to you. Or do you make your decisions based on your emotions, beliefs, and things you have learned growing up? Even judges who are supposed to follow the letter of the law, take into account things like evidence, patterns/history of the individual on trial, and their emotions/beliefs to set down verdicts.

And I have been accused of being an idiot and maybe I am, but I will never be accused of being perfect or being a hypocrite. Good luck being better than most everyone else. It will be a huge burden after a while not screwing up, being human, and learning from mistakes like most of us will make and learn from along the way.

Jodeman we are all idiots at some point and time and sometimes its hard not to point that out to someone when they are!

You made a great point that we should not jump to any conclusions about the judge's work ethics until we know otherwise!

Apologies if I sounded like an idiot in the earlier post !

Krestov, you called me out and it is all good. No apology needed.

I could not finish watching it, made me sick to my stomach and shake to see this evil monster do this to a disabled child or any child. Continuous beating like this is probably more prevalent than we know. The Mother who allowed it also makes me sick and vomit.

Why does God allow it? What will God do to punish him? Who in this life will punish him? Please voters, start a petition to kick him out of office.

Jodeman & Krestov, bravo, the exchange you both had with each other on this vine gives me hope that humans can make mistakes, jump to conclusions and be forgiven. We can have intellegent conversations that can change a point of view. You two gave me back faith to the human species. So many people are willing to go to the bitter end to validate their point of view right or wrong. We all need to listen to each other, apologise and clarify when needed without so much anger. We could accomplish so much more.

I just watched the interview with Matt Lauer. That girl is just great and I think she has a relationship with her mother because she needs her to testify abuse went on for many years. Who knows about that cerebral palsy issue ? could be neurological damage from a hit on the head when she was small. I do not feel love for her mother but tolerance and the need for them to both go against the stronger abuser of the two. He is now trying to get custody of a younger daughter and I think it is the reason why the video went on the air. The women are sticking together.....finally.

the fruit doesn't fall to far from the tree, in other words this man couldn't have been too different in his home life than with his work life, especially with the type of cases he presides over. How does someone separate believing children should be beat when they do something wrong, oh but only my child.

Now on the situation, I don't know what to do with this man. Like the daughter said hopefully he can get some help with his anger issues. Being a judge I'm sure he's seen the darker side of "discipline" its the reason why assault is against the law. One wrong hit and a person could die. Why couldnt he just take her computer away. He went too far. I know what this girl has been through, my father was a good provider in every sense except for when he punished me and my siblings, it always went to far and his anger got the best of him. I did do things that deserved some kind of punishment but I remember having strap marks and bruises on my body that I had to cover up in gym class or made excusses of how it happened to friends. Its scary and humiliating to be beaten. My only hope is people can learn from this.

As a father I meted out corporal punishment to my son for a serious infraction on his part. That was 10 years ago when he was 16 years old. My son went on his merry way but I squalled like a baby.

I don't think that the punishment that this man gave his daughter bothered him one bit. And, there within, lies the rub.

Any woman so dependent on her husband that she would stand there while he is abusing her own daughter and then tells her to "take it like a woman" is herself as bad as that so-called "man" she married.

I realize there are women out there who look the other way at child abuse for a man's paycheck. I believe there is a red light district ready and waiting for them. That mother doesn't deserve any forgiveness.

I have a feeling this isn't the first instance of Mr. Man showing his quads to those he knows he has ultimate control over. That wife of his needs to be in a mental ward.

Now she thinks she deserves forgiveness? After he buttered her palm with big moolah while he beat and abused her children? She's as much a pig as he is.

This is unbelievable.

The Judge looks perfectly normal, but must have severe anger isssues of his own.

It is good this story came out. Maybe others who in any way abuse their children should be exposed; the child or children, removed from the home

It is always the Mother who knows what is going on, but cannot report her husband. (Stockholm syndrome?) It is a very, very sick relationship between husband and wife. She must have been abused in a very different way--no details on this part, yet.

I am familiar with physical abuse issues in other homes--the Mother is afraid to be alone, and the child is the victim. It is sick, sick.

If proven this story is true, this animal should be put away for years.

"Although the 5-year statute of limitations for charges of bodily injury to a child most likely means criminal charges will not be filed"

A 5 year statute of limitations is ridiculous. Anything involing a child should have a minimum of 10 years limitation, especially since the child is often the one who will have to report the abuse.

Quite honestly any crime that is videotaped should not have any statute of limitations, just another way our laws have failed to keep up with the times.

I hope the good folks of Texas use Willy Adams as a punching bag, wherever he tries to hide.

Flex - By your comments that would make the beatings and participation by the mother a disgusting, sexist female b!tch.

The children beaten by a parent are used as scapegoats--

True Domestic Violence and Abuse. The Mother has to be willing to charge her Husband with this kind of abuse to her own children. Most cases, this does not happen. The Wife has been either beaten down verbally, or physically so badly, they cannot break away--she is a CO-DEPENDENT in this case of child abuse.

Jodeman

In a court judgement last October, Judge Adams said that a child’s statements ‘amounted to no evidence’ despite the fact his words had been confirmed by third party witnesses and recorded on video several times. The young person had also been interviewed by a child psychologist who believed the child.

According to Judge William Adams, "all children are ‘fantasizers’ and their testimony should just be ignored." (actual Quote)

listen to the psychotics say what a great job the dad is doing...

funny how they use their religion (just like the taliban) to justify their violent tendencies. I just can't see the difference between one bunch of religious, violent nuts and another bunch of religious violent nuts.

Not Stockholm Syndrome at all. Just a pathetic woman too afraid to get rid of a child abuser and lose all that moolah and that Texas mansion. I've seen this kind of married harlot more times than I can count.

They have no real sense of self-respect because creature comfort comes before all else. It's impossible to respect that kind of woman. Yet, they are the first to demonize the women who strike out of an abusive marriage.

Is this so-called woman still married to Mr. Man? Is she still on his dole? Some reason she couldn't call the authorities on him or was her luxurious lifestyle more important? Some set of priorities that one is.

@AndyBlue-674311

You have proven your point in one of his cases (I admit I havent Snoped it to make sure you arent messing with me though). Fair enough.

Sparing the rod will promote non-violent tendencies. It’s a fact.

Hitting models hitting.

Spanking demonstrates that it’s all right to hit people, especially for big people to hit little people and stronger people to hit weaker people. Children learn that to solve problems you do it with a swat!

For some children the occasional swat on the butt will be remembered more than all the hugs.

There are more appropriate methods of correction and parents need to reconsider the old-fashioned disciplining methods of their parents. Just because you turned out fine and were spanked is no excuse, given the overwhelming evidence that spanking can be quite harmful. To ignore the evidence and to continue spanking is ignorance and abuse at its worst.

Don’t have children if you can’t control your violent impulses.

The father should lose his job and be jailed. He is an ignorant SOB. His daughter deserves praise for having the courage to reveal her most private and terrifying ordeal.

Please, if you love your children and want the best life for them, read up on alternative methods of disciplining your children. It works!

Update: I got on the official Aransas County website and they are having one heck of a day there, apparently. No matter which department you choose, there is a message from a Judge Mills stating they are aware of the video and please do not contact court officials because it is making their jobs difficult.

Of course, I tried to contact anyway and all you can get is the same message from Judge Mills.

You go, Hillary. You have effectively shut down the Aransas County website. Also, all of Adamss hearings for yesterday and today were cancelled. I picture him on a plane trying to get the hell out of Dodge right about now. For you fans of old Westerns, this would be a Bad Day at Black Rock. :)

Ewent, this article or another I read states the wife has left him. Don't know when.

Those wonderful humanitarians and internet superheroes are on the case...

...This guy is doomed. I hope he likes pizzas and bibles...

ewent, the wife left the scumbag. and a good thing too, the scum doesn't deserve a wife, kids, a job or anything else. hope he gets thrown off of his post with no pension. another useless "beat your kids for god" nut

Shoot, danwill. He'll probably end up wasting his days posting on Newsvine.

Hey Cheese Monkey, I love your terminology. Almost every story that I have read on the internet seems to have had countless flies on stink.

danwill...I never understood how some women go from Daddy's control to husband's control. I left an abusive ex and never looked back. No regrets. I realized that if he was physically abusive to me, he could easily do the same to his sons. I never make idle threats. You can't give that mentality a third or fourth or fifth chance. They never change. I realized that soon enough and was gone with the wind.

There was a huge price to pay for my independence. But, in retrospect, I never minded the price. Some women are just too too dependent on others. It's not even dependency so much as gross insecurity.

ewent, That's exactly what it is: gross insecurity. I was going to point that out earlier and didn't want to derail. Thanks for doing it for me.

What causes "gross insecurity"? Childhoods like the one Hillary Adams had. So, I've stopped judging others. Walk a mile in their shoes, you know?

I feel sorry for the girl, but we've only gotten her side of the story. What if she did something so bad that she deserved a belt whipping? I am not a parent, so I cannot look at this from a parents perspective. I was, however, an unruly child that did not often mind my parents. That insubordination was often met with the end of a willow switch to my legs. I lived thru it and became a well mannered, respectful adult. I would never have thought of reporting my parents to authorities because they whipped me with a switch.

I also have to wonder if the ex wife/mother played any part in releasing, or convincing the girl to release this video. What better way to get back at her ex husband.

IMO the saddest part of this whole story is that the ties between the girl and her father will never be the same.

danwill...I never understood how some women go from Daddy's control to husband's control.

Hell, I went from my parents control, to coaches control in college, to my various bosses and to finally my wife's control. Even got pulled over for improper lane change the other day and I was...get this...under the control of a cop!!!

Get over it! Someone is always controlling you! If they're not, you better be doing a damn good job of controlling yourself!!!

@Russ1:

If you go here, you will discover that they have already got the wheels in motion.

Not sure if you are mad or complimenting, but figured that it should be noted that the bottom levels of the internet have heard about this.

I hear he packed up his bags and was seen leaving his house with his girlfriend while carrying two shot guns. All these Texas he-men have cabins for hunting. I wonder where it is.

The Court has received death threats from people all over the world. this video went internatio­nal.

It was complimentary, Cheese

Imatthebeach...I've walked that mile for 15 years. I'm an expert. But if you want to know what the best therapy is for 15 years of living with a super control freak is, I volunteered at an abused women and children's center for 2 years. After what I saw there, I realized I was lucky to only have a few broken bones.

I certainly hope the DA that gets this case can find 'something' to charge this man with. Even if it isn't the statute quoted in the article. DA's are often very creative at finding reams of indictments to throw against people for petty crimes. Given what this man has been documented doing, I expect the same kind of earnest pursuit of him. Unfortunately he's probably the wrong color to get that kind of treatment in Texas.

Outside of the legal, the young lady is a little off with her 'hope'of this man getting help. You cannot help the type of behavior that was displayed. People of that nature should never be allowed near children, given any type of power, authority, or serious responsibility, and they can only be 'rehabbed' by being put down like a rabid animal. The judge with his statement that he released, the expression that was reported when the young lady said she had the video before release, and the quotes attributed to the judge in his own court proceedings affirm this impression. He's mentally twisted and beyond help, therapy, or medicated alternatives. And from the sounds of the family life over medicating tended to assist not hinder this tragedy of parenting to occur.

I'll also go to say that as a voter in local elections, and someone who actually pays attention to local politicians, he is indeed not fit to hold his position, and should be removed from the bench. If he is also a lawyer and holds license, he should be disbarred. The young lady should also worry about her own safety should that happen. It would not be incomprehensible to picture this man snapping and attempting to physically harm his daughter for the damage he has done to himself.

IMHO, there's no excuse for corporal punishment! Period!!

When I was a kid, I was regularly spanked with a wire clothes hanger. Yeah, it hurt, but as an adult, I remember that what really got to me.....were the "verbal" spankings that generally said..... "I'm sooo disappointed in you". THAT is what stuck. That said, as a parent with a child [who's now 25 yrs old], she never once felt the smack on her rear, or legs. If she misbehaved, it was a verbal scolding that she got, and she got the message.

Corporal punishment only gives two messages: "I'm bigger than you, and I can inflict pain!!"

How many thousands of dollars of music did she download? I've seen some people convicted in the news because the fines where huge $100,000 of dollars. How many times had he told her not to download and steal music? He is a judge he more than anyone is on the spot if she is found to be stealing....downloading music illegally is stealing by the way. This didn't come out before because she could have been convicted of stealing......He should have turned her in but than he would have had to cover her fines. She and her mother want something from him. If she has CP it's very mild and no children are born with it and most aren't diagnosed till they are learning to sit up. My sister has CP.

My father beat me similarly. Even worse for things I did not do. It sure does build resentment. Of course, in the 60's and 70's we didn't have personal recording devices. All in all though the girl was up and walking afterward which is more than I can say for me. The judge may not be the best parent, but I have known worse.

ewent:

What if there is no PAYCHECK from the abuser?

I've seen this happen, and the wife still stands by her "man" (weasel)---

So many complications in Domestic Violence cases--all of them have their own crazy story---Both Partners are very Sick, needing thorough Psychotherapy to even begin to know how they have damaged the minds of their children FOREVER.

It could be this Judge was an Alcoholic who claims he knows nothing about what happened, i.e., in extreme cases much like Deborah and whatever happened to Baby Lisa.

Crazy.

NotAtAll:

Agree: In the early 1950's, 1960's, and 70's this was not considered abuse at all. There was No word for this horrendous crime committed by parents..

People loved to use belts, switches, lashing, hand spanking all parts of the body, making their kids bleed, and no one ever saw the bruises--

It was accepted in those days or hidden from others.-

Hideous subject.

Maui,

Try coat hangers.

I've never understood why it is that if a random person walks up to a child and whips them, it is assault, but when it's a parent it's ok? The action is the same. Why does the existents or absence of a relationship change anything?! The statute of limitations should not apply to minors! This girl is right; DCF would have done nothing to protect her from her father if she contacted authorities when she was younger. Even with the video as proof, they would have said that he is totally ALLOWED to whip her. I wish it weren't true, but it is. One more thing, as upsetting and repulsive as this is to watch, THIS IS COMMON in many homes. It will take a lot of people to get this changed.

wow some people! I can't believe anyone would equate this man's actions to discipline.... even spanking isn't this violent no matter what way you spin it.

No one has the right to hit their child. Regardless of what we experienced as a child ourselves. What ever happened to grounding as a punishment? Furthermore if he is a judge and she broke the law then report her to the authorities if you want the fear of God in her.

And come on - he apologized? So what?! If every abuser got off the hook simply becaused they apologized then we would have dead wives and children all over America for not throwing those pieces of trash in jail! He has no place being a father or a judge. If a priest can be charged with molestation 30 years after a law was broken then the statute of limitations should damn well be more than 5 years for child & spousal abuse!

Rewrite the law and get this a-hole off the bench ASAP!!!

I have no issue with this punishment. If every girl that is caught spreading her legs, smoking, pot smoking, skipping school was actually punished like this there would be a lot less single parents posting on this thread about how horrible this is.

Believe it or not being pregnant at 17 or in jail by 18 is NOT the best way to go through life. Yes it is very very confusing but you can understand it if you try.

If you read the original story she had been grounded for doing this exact thing before. So lets see what would have happened if the download would have been prosecuted.

1. it was dads computer

2. it was in dads house

3. dad is responsible for actions of his underage children

4. dad would have paid all fines, jailtime, probation, loss of job

COMPLETELY within his rights.

Looks pretty bad to me.. agreed. I propose, however, that the internet has created a society of judges. Unfortunately many of who are hypocrites to the very actions they judging.

Looks like she also got right up and walked away. Who of you can sit there and say a video taken of you at a given time in your life would present you in an unfavorable light? I do not agree with his outburst and it was obviously not effective...however I will pass the right to judge this man to all you experts.

I'm not supporting this guy or the daughter. I think they both looked bad on video.

2. it was in dads house

When a parent feels the need to tell a child who's house they reside in the message clearly states the child is not welcome or they are property.

A house is a home and few children are responsible for turning a home into a house.

Cheese, Thanks for "go here". Wow...........I thought it was hilarious. Does that mean I'm at the bottom level of the internet?

Children need to respect the rules of the home which should be set by the parents who do .. indeed...own the house.

Weak statement.

Wow, Mark-1219747. Your comments are sickening. I notice you only call out the girls that should be beaten for doing what you consider bad things. So, you're saying that her being beaten prevented her from getting pregnant at 17 or thrown in jail? Really? I hope you don't have children of your own that you abuse. You sound like a misogynist.

ewent,

After reading your post, which included:

"I realize there are women out there who look the other way at child abuse for a man's paycheck. I believe there is a red light district ready and waiting for them. That mother doesn't deserve any forgiveness" I have to wonder....

OMG.

Have you now received enough information/replies on the subject of spousal/child abuse to understand just why a Mother could "look the other way"?

Beaten wives/women (the VAST majority of domestic beatings) were either witness to and/or abused children at the hands of the "father." They learn that being beaten is... somehow deserved.

It's not about a PAYCHECK.

As to many of the other responses here, you sadden me. Please, please do some research on abused-wife/abused-child syndrome. PLEASE.

The fact that people on here relate a butt spanking to priests raping people....

I made a new friend. Just got this email. I disguised her email somewhat so no one emails her.

Subject: u are a jackass
Name: cath-3218686
Email: cath***@-----------.com

Message:
really! u must be a friend of that idiot

And this was my reponse to her.

I don’t even know him. And I don’t condone violence either. I do however condone disciplining your kids. Maybe not to the extent he did but I am not here to judge him or his daughter for what mistakes they have made or are still making by posting this seven year old video. Revenge is all she wants, nothing more. And after watching her on the TODAY show, I feel that she isn’t mature enough at 23 to understand the ramifications of her decision to post it. She made her dad look bad, good for her. She got even, good for her. It doesn’t help fix his mistakes he made as a man or a husband or a father. She has done nothing to mend the fence between father and daughter and my guess is, they will never have contact with each other ever again. And that is truly sad for that family. No I don’t know him, and you don’t know me either. But if you think I am a jackass, well that’s cool. I probably have been one a few times in my life but not to you. Have a good one.

That guy is a sick sadist and so is the wife. Staying for a paycheck and let your child be abused and aid the abuser?? That's just as sick. About time the young woman released the video. Unfortunately, it's probably too late to put the parents in jail; and if they kick him off the bench, he'll probably end up with a fat pension. There may be some satisfaction in the fact that his reputation and standing in the community may well be ruined forever.

Jodeman,

You get a "pass" (rather than "No Value") because the facts aren't all in.

Statute of limitation is up, but her father's reputation affects a lifetime. Yes, she may have gotten "even" for...? Then again, she might have gotten healing. Who are we to judge without more information?

Given that, (facts not in...)... you may be right. However her father (the "judge") doesn't look so good.

Child abuse (and, perhaps, spousal abuse) is not cool

Jodeman,

The problem with abuse and the abuser is they confess their actions are always caused by the victim.

I cannot imagine any decent, sane parent brutalizing a youngster with cerebral palsy or any child, for that matter.

These two parents are sick, sick, sick. They are repugnant, repulsive, vile and evil, taking advantage of a weaker, younger and helpless victim. Sick!

What I see:

Dad: inability to control himself, excited and thrilled after each hit almost as if her not turning over was pleasing his appetite to swing "full weighted momentum" over and over.

Mom: tried to play median but overly accepts dads need to "get his". Suggests that what may happen to her daughter is less than what would happen otherwise...

Kid: numb and ready as if to suggest this was a routine job. -why stop at one video?

..personally i wouldn't have been brave enough to tape my dad if this was what i could expect.....She knew he was doing wrong and that video gave her the power when she thought she needed it the most....probably helped reassure her that not everyone was like that....

I hope that his anger has not caused her to suffer from her own personal relationships. Sometimes as adult these people who were abused as kids cant manage their own anger and use hitting or self harm as a way to feel in control.

Situations like these are breeding grounds for: Borderline personality...which is a mental dysfunction that is created by the persons environment and ability to adapt to harsh situations. These people, Borderline, suffer from untreatable irrationalities and are a main contributor to the drainage of our health care systems. A judge should know this is what happens and should be the TOP person who would prevent any more humans from suffering from mental disorders caused by emotionally challenging family life.

This is why I think there are grounds for punishment from one channel or another. This man, in the video, is creating a mentally disturbed person...and hes the man that decides the fate of others.

Jode, this doesn't represent disciplining a child; this represents abuse. Try doing this form of discipline to a friend, neighbor or another adult, and society will discipline you, swiftly.

The problem is, these monsters felt as if this was perfectly normal to treat their helpless child in this manner while these vile individuals wouldn't dare treat anyone else in this unethical and vile manner. Why did they inherently believe it was okay to beat their physically challenged child while knowing it was wrong and unlawful, otherwise???

Anyone who believes this was "disciplining a child" needs help asap because society has ways of dealing with sickos.

Bird of Paradise:

Excellent comments---most people cannot conceive what spousal and child abuse really is like.

I've seen it from everywhere--sometimes, one has to distance themselves from this horrible family dysfunction.

As for the Child, they are certainly the ones held hostages and the true victims. CPS doesn't do much---if reported. They shun themselves from the problem, and never follow thru on cases like this. Social Workers.

The only hope is the child or children abandon their parents after the age of 18.

Otherwise, a 16 year old can demand to legally Emanicipate themselves from their Mother and Father.

Another note: Children in families like this can become the parents in an addictive household. They are the Caretakers and feel a need to be the Peace Makers--Guilt written all over them, because they feel responsible for their parents actions..

This child got everything she deserves! Remember, she was caught stealing from an online service. A crime easily punishable by imprisonment, not to mention a hefty fine for her parents, since it was their computer. Where in the world does it say children at the age of 16 can do whatever they wanted and it is up to the parents to bail them out? Secondly, the father hit her on the arms, butt and the legs.... all the right places that have lots of padding and would not cause permanent damage. ( it wouldn't paralyze her).

I noticed for one, that she still thinks she is in the right. Probably a lot of you liberals would think so too; the father did not do anything wrong. This video is making it seem worse than it is. This is NOT child abuse.

The child is obviously mentally deficient. No doubt later on she'll ask her parents if she can move back in when she's broke.

Unhappy, this has nothing to do with being liberal, it relates to sanity and abuse. I see you are okay with a beating provided it is not in the head, but rest assured, he hit her around 20 times while swinging the belt and you could hear every smack.

My overwhelming concern is the lack of parenting skills displayed on this thread. Do you people really think a beating is the solution? Are you really that lazy of a parent to think it should be resolved within minutes and that will promote the best results? No one mentions the obvious: take the computer away. Cut off the internet connection, assign passwords, block sites. Ground the child, take away more privileges------PARENT! Beating a child 20 times is not parenting it is an excuse for a display of rage. His language and the way the wife reacted as if he were speaking like a normal person is inbelievable.

The reason the girl did it, for those that did not listen to her this morning, is that he continued to harass her. He would not stop even now when she is an adult. She told him she would publicize it and she did. Do I agree with it? Of course not, but her parents did not teach her any better. It was self preservation.

I agree bencas and shame on him for abusing (physically, emotionally & verbally)a child with a disability; cerebal palsy. A child with a disability needs understanding and compassion. It's important to discipline a child not abuse them. In my opinion, his act was criminal.

Good responses from BirdOfParadise 2.60, my314tin 2.61, and skor154 and 2.64. I agree with the first two and most of the third. skor154, if you are saying that the daughter was helpless at 16, I would tend to diagree with you. Most 16 year olds are pretty savy these days on jobs, driving, sex (at least the think they are just like we did), technology, etc... That being said, when up against her father, she probably did feel helpless. Who wouldnt when their parent is that angry. And if you are stating that she is physically challenged because if CP, I havent read that about her in any of the news stories or on this thread and I didnt see it on the TODAY show this morning so I dont know where you are coming from on that. But maybe she is limited because of her CP.

And yes, I do believe in discipline and spanking can be part of that. Did he go overboard, more than likely. Does he feel bad about it, I dont know. Does she want revenge, I think so. And from the responses that I am reading, she is getting it. This guy f-ed up seven years ago (and maybe since then too) and he is going to pay for it in more ways than we can imagine. Think about things you have do to people that may have been pretty bad seven years ago, would you want the world to know that you had a moment where you were a worthless d-bag? I wouldnt.

This family has big problems, correction, had big problems before this. Now that mountain is huge and may never be crossed. Having family problems is tough enough to fix without the world throwing in their two cents worth (like I am doing now. I guess I am a hypocrite. HA) I said my peace and it wasnt to try and change peoples minds because that isnt my job. But to point out that we dont know everything that went on with this girl and her parents when she was younger and it isnt our job to judge these people.

And in the famous words of Forrest Gump, "And that's all I have to say about that."

That girl wanted to provoke her father. She sets up a camera, covers it with a scarf and then proceeds to download music files which her parents tell her ahead of time not to. She may have cerebral palsy, but she sure looked like she could get out of the way if she had to. She just posted this to make you feel sorry for her.

I don't necessarily condone what he did, but she doesn't strike me as "innocent" either.

You know, I'm not a big fan of violence. I have kids, and as a young father I even spanked them a couple of times, though never with anything like a belt and never more than a couple quick swats. Even with that I felt bad about it later and have not spanked in years.

I believe violence begets violence. that said, this guy is lucky he does not live anywhere near me right now because after seeing this video, I would beat his a$$. I guarantee, he would not feel nearly so tough after I got threw with him. I would say put a bullet in this guys head but that would be too kind.

I am amazed at these comments the father has a right to discipline his child. where is the abuse he tell her to turn over she refuse so he whacked her. He is not continuously hitting her over and over. she committed a crime so her punishment was a whipping. Many expert tell us to follow through with what we say what will be a consequence so the judge follow through. Yeah i was whipped when i was younger but it was to let me know there are consequences to being disobedient. he did not hit her in the face, on the arms, he is hitting her on her clothes. it must not have been that bad because she was done crying and talking at the end of the video. the whole beating thing took no more than two in between talking and swinging. i see why americas messed up because we are always trying to force our views on someone else. now we are going to destroy this man career because of a whipping. wake up and get real. now we have giving her and others like her an excuse to now go and kill off a family because her father abused her. yes there is abuse in the world and this is not an example.

Making you mad.

Some of these comments here are insane. The man is physically and mentally abusive. If you think what he did to this child was okay then what do you think society would say (or you) if he did it to your child?

A good rule for parents is; treat your children like you treat your children's friends. The world would be better for it.

"Are you happy....are you happy" he said this to his daughter as if it was her intent to infuriate him and cause him to lose control. It's a typical **see what you caused me to do attitude** of an abuser.

This is a sad deal, but I know of a family that was just the opposite. Both parents had PhDs in Psychology and decided to use all the approved non-corporal punishment theories of child rearing. As a result, only one of their 4 children is alive today and he is in prison for armed robbery to support his drug habit. The other three kids died from an overdose, a shooting in a drug deal gone bad and from AIDS contracted while working as a prostitute to support her drug habit.

I used to play with the kids when I was a boy and I always marveled at what they got away with. Something that my parents would have busted my arse for (I wasn't always a good boy) only resulted in a calm scolding and a little time out for them.

While a serious beating is excessive, a good old fashioned spanking is sometimes just what the Doctor ordered for a willfully disobedient child. There is a lot of truth in the old adage of "spare the rod and spoil the child".

Wow... what a bunch of SICK, DEMENTED PSYCHOPATHS you all are. I'm 52 yrs old. I STILL suffer from my father's abuse growing up. My father is STILL abusive and I can honestly say I can't WAIT until the sonofabitch is 6 ft under so we'll finally be FREE of him. Unfortunately we will bear the emotional and physical 'scars' of his abuse until we die. He is/was not a man....he was, just like this judge, a COWARD and a MONSTER.

Those of you that think ABUSE like this is "ok" need to seek psychatric help. I feel sorry for your children if you have any because they will have to live w/the scars of hatred and humiliation for the rest of their lives. Their relationships with others will always be dysfunctional because YOU are all dysfunctional. No matter WHAT a child does it NEVER, EVER warrants a BEATING. EVER. Apparently you are all FAILURES as parents and human beings if you have to physically and verbally beat your kids into submission.

Sparing the rod will promote non-violent tendencies. It’s a fact.

Hitting models hitting.

Spanking demonstrates that it’s all right to hit people, especially for big people to hit little people and stronger people to hit weaker people. Children learn that to solve problems you do it with a swat!

For some children the occasional swat on the butt will be remembered more than all the hugs.

There are more appropriate methods of correction and parents need to reconsider the old-fashioned disciplining methods of their parents. Just because you turned out fine and were spanked is no excuse, given the overwhelming evidence that spanking can be quite harmful. To ignore the evidence and to continue spanking is ignorance and abuse at its worst.

So sorry if you beleive this BS. The tests that they gave to prove your theory, do you mind linking them. I want to read over all the things they put into place to make it a fair and responsible test. Did the researchers take the children out of school for this study. Did they limit their exposure to only the people in the study. Do you know why I ask? if you an a friend talk about an event, one or the other can influance the other. A child gets spanked while his friend does not, the friend can easily inflauance him into worse behaviour with the statement, well I can get away with it.

People who think that beating a child is okay are just plain lazy and stupid. They have no idea how to reason with another person when they are a child and they can't be taught. They are permanent victims of their own parents. This kind of abuse is passed down.

It is a caveman attitude and actually show how little they really think of their own kid that they won't give them the time to learn.

It 'appears' that it was greed that allowed her to post this not revenge like I thought/still think. If this ends up being true then I hope some people will change the way they look at this girl. Maybe not the incident in question because it was somewhat over the top but how straight her head is like so many have posted. I think she needs serious mental help. Heck, the whole family is now going to be going thru more hell than her immature 23 year old mind thought out due to daddy cutting her off financially (if it ends up being the case of course). I do feel for the youngest daughter because now she is the one who will get stuck with all the crap from her friends.

“If the public must know, just prior to the YouTube upload, a concerned father shared with his 23-year-old daughter that he was unwilling to continue to work hard and be her primary source of financial support, if she was going to simply ‘drop out’ [from college] and strive to achieve no more in life than to work part time at a video-game store,” said the statement released by Adams’ attorney, William A. Dudley.

Read the full statement here

“Hillary warned her father if he reduced her financial support, and took away her Mercedes automobile, which her father had provided, he would live to regret it. The post was then uploaded.”

Holy Cow Smc:

Get thee to a shrink, STAT. And a few anger mgmt classes wouldn't hurt either. You're 52 and still carrying around all this hatred? You will die a bitter old woman if you don't seek help.

Excuse me ?? Who has the degree in Psychology here... ME or you ? Yeah... I thought so. Shut the hell up because you haven't a CLUE about the dynamics of a dysfunctional, abusive family life.

Excuse ME, I've got a BS in Nursing (a REAL degree, btw, not some useless fluff), and I'm not trying to psychoanalyze "the dynamics of a dysfunctional, abusive family life." Clearly you are one ANGRY soul, lashing out with uncivil discourse at anyone who disagrees with you. I pity you. Buh-bye.

Not a Socialist:

And SMC, even if she does seek Psychiatric help, that anger will still be with her for the rest of her life.

It never goes away. There is always some trigger---and good therapy can be of great help to know how to deal with all the anger toward the parent.

Parents can really do a "job" on a kid or growing teen---they just are too stupid to think of the future this child will endure--Deep Pain, resentment, and being afraid of others.

It is a matter of TRUST---there is NO trust in other people.

Ever heard of Anxiety/Panic Attacks, and Depression? That goes with this kind of abuse--.

As a RN, try some compassion---

Seems like she took a page out of "The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo".....

There is nothing wrong with 'setting up' a frequent abuser in order to catch them in the act. Obviously it was not isolated, and the fact that it's over something so piddly as downloading music only shows that it didn't take much provocation to get this sort of reaction. 16yo is too old as well, it's just flat out creepy... especially given the history of spankings rooted in pagan erotica.

As a kid, I was spanked, whipped with a belt a few times, and I remember one time when my dad whipped me with some hard plastic toy pirate swords... kind of comical. This though, this was straight up abuse. This judge was downright furious. This wasn't discipline - this was sadism... and if you can't see the obvious difference you must be some sort of sociopath yourself.

My friend is back. The most unhappy person I have met lately. Here is what she had to say this time. Her name is cathleen j-h but we'll leave it at that.

OMG u are an idiot revenge...... she was scared to do it cause she lived under his roof, obviously u were never beaten, good for u, but for the rest of us, u have not a clue the hell, the fear..... of these asses....
ramifications, GOD u need to just shut up u are an idiot, she shld mend fences OMG

And here is the response I sent to her. BTW, I am done arguing with her because once you start arguing with an idiot, than no one can tell who the original idiot is.

Going thru life judging people that you don’t know and whose back story you can’t comprehend, is going to paint you into a corner. I do know the fear of being beaten by my father who used whatever was available at the time he was mad. I had welts on my face, neck, back, wherever he could reach. I also know that my dad was a better man than the few times he did this to me and my brother and I don’t let it define me, him, or our relationship. I have had to bury a child and watch the pain in my wifes eyes everyday knowing that her son is no longer ever going to be able to hug her and tell her he loves her so I know loss too and the void a broken family leaves. Fortunately, this girl is still here so she can make the choice to not be a greedy, vengeful, immature little @!$%# if she so chooses. Her father has so making up to do for this one (or maybe many) mistakes that he has made and from what I have read lately, he has been and there is more to this story than was posted at first (as I thought there would be).

Like I said before you don’t know me. You can presume to know me but that just makes you a bitter, narrow minded, unhappy person. I may be an idiot at times but I will always try to know both sides of the story before I open my mouth to judge someone. You are a unhappy person and I wish you the best. I am fighting the urge to call you so many things that describe a person like you but it won’t do any good because you wouldn’t see that you are wrong by thinking you know what I have been thru and what this family has/is going thru. I hope that the pain someone caused you goes away in time and you can learn to forgive and move on. Good luck with life. It sounds as if you are unhappy to me but since I don’t know you, I won’t make that judgment.

they police have gone on record as saying this action was a crime at the time and they wish she had released it earlier.

No sitting judge over seeing family court should have a histroy of the crimes he is overseeing.

No one has the right to hit their child. Regardless of what we experienced as a child ourselves. What ever happened to grounding as a punishment? Furthermore if he is a judge and she broke the law then report her to the authorities if you want the fear of God in her.

Oh, that's the solution...Next time my 3 year old is holding a piece of candy in her hand or pocket that I didn't pay for...Then I'll just call the police or DEFAX.

Holy mackerle, where do you people come from!!!!

You know...Stody after study has shown that tennage and adult criminals are virtually unreformable with better than 90% returning to jail after serving time the first time.

The key is...get this...to prevent the FIRST TIME from ever happening!!! If that means I've got to spank my child several times before they reach the point of no return then SO TO HELL BE IT!!!

They'll thank me when when they have children. A parent's worst fear is that their child gets themselves into something that they, as a parent, can't get them out of!

and if you go to far and break the law

as study after study show the line between pubishment and abuse can be blurred by the intiontions of the part punishing

KPOKeef: you know what, when I was a kid I took a piece of candy from the store. You know what my Mom did. She made me go back to the store. I had to show the manager what I had taken. I had to apologize for taking it. She then paid for the candy but I didn't get to eat it. That lesson worked pretty well. I was probably 4 or 5 years old at the time but I still remember it. I have not stolen since. Keep in mind I was never spanked.

I was spanked on other occasions but I can't remember why. See no lesson learned, only that I was spanked. Spanking is for parents who are not smart enough to think of a better way. I'm not saying any spanking is a criminal act but if you think it's the only way to teach children then you are either stupid or a sadist. There are better ways and I can guarantee you that none of those people going to jail are there because they were not beaten enough as a child.

I should add, that now as a father one of my kids once took a piece of candy from the store. I followed my moms example. Only variation, after we left the store, I had a long talk with my daughter about right and wrong. I told her I still loved her and then we shared the candy.

That daughter is now a sophmore in college. She is doing great. She is honest, no tattoos, no drinking, drugs, gangs, no criminal record. In fact she even has a scholarship. Looking back I can honestly say that not once have I ever said to myself, "man, I wish I would have just beat that kid".

A BS in nursing only means a BS in nursing thank you. It's obvious you didn't spend any time dealing with wounded children or adults wounded as children. Your comments indicate that any classes dealing with child psychology were missed.

.....and

Thanks Rhino!

Unhappy, Hope you are not a parent. Lord, deliver me from the "Unhappies" of the world......

I honestly can't decide whether or not you are a troll............

Can always count on you for vitriol, no matter what the topic is.

Excuse ME, I've got a BS in Nursing (a REAL degree, btw, not some useless fluff), and I'm not trying to psychoanalyze "the dynamics of a dysfunctional, abusive family life." Clearly you are one ANGRY soul, lashing out with uncivil discourse at anyone who disagrees with you. I pity you. Buh-bye.

whoopie effing do! yeah, a degree in changing bedpans makes you the expert in psychology.

a "real degree"? ROFLMAO!

The sad thing is that there are so many kids of "upstanding " people in communities who do this and worse to their kids and the whole family acts like nothing is wrong. Should their kids speak up, they are considered "bad seeds" or liars.

Thanks to Hillary Adams for posting this! May kids everywhere get their hands on audio or video cameras, document their physical and mental abusers, and expose them!

Just because someone is a banker, lawyer, merchant, CEO, minister, doctor, politician, or even the most well-regarded person in the community: YOU NEVER KNOW WHAT GOES ON BEHIND CLOSED DOORS!

Anindividual- Well said....

The worthless little bitch should have done as she was told ! She deserved every lash she got and should have gotten more ! The liberal left wing candy assed reaction to the beating is exactly why duhmerica has absolutely no future remaining ! This country is history ! duhmerica is now as worthless as her entire generation ! The great nation of Texas is all that will remain of this once great nation.

Really? You think this young girl deserved this? This must be her father or father's family member, because if you had an ounce of compassion, you wouldnt be writing this. This girl DID NOT DESERVE THIS TREATMENT BY HER PARENTS!

If Texas is into child beating, no wonder Texas is so effed up!

I could not finish watching it, made me sick to my stomach and shake to see this evil monster do this to a disabled child or any child. Continuous beating like this is probably more prevalent than we know. The Mother who allowed it also makes me sick and vomit.

Why does God allow it? What will God do to punish him? Who in this life will punish him? Please Texas voters, start a petition to kick him out of office.

dxsmopium, are you from the tea party, or merely a typical republican psycho?

I remember the day when the republican party was one I could agree with on occasion. I even was registered republican at first. It is sad what has become of it.

All -- I was just reading the sick (and I hope sarcastic) post of dxsmopuim -- and accidentallyvoted for it -- please discount the 4th vote because it was an accident! dxsmopuim -- get a grip and a clue.

Different day, same conversation. Unless you grew up in an abusive household, you cannot understand the motivation to set up the camera. Was the same motivation that urged my sister in 1985 to set the tape recorder on the kitchen counter. So when the cops came and tried to tell everyone to "just calm down" we had proof of how he was verbally, emotionally and physically abusing his wife and children. When Hillary talks about how it was building up ... I know what that was like. All would be quiet for awhile, then he'd snap. We'd know when it was coming. The beating was not for stealing, the beating was for being her own person at the age of 16 and not blind obedience to an abusive father. Our beatings were because dad had a bad day, so he'd figure out some reason to take out the belt and whip us until his arm got tired. An abuser will find a reason to hit, doesn't matter what the kids do, or don't do, to deserve it.

dxs, we need to rid the world of persons like you, you should all be placed on an island to beat each other to whatever. I am sorry for you and the fact that you were probably beaten as a child, had harsh parents, but they were wrong and you continue the cycle, STOP THE CYCLE and get professional help.

The "great nation of Texas" eh?? dxs, you best damned well toe the line in that great nation of yours. Obviously, just like that trigger-happy, power mad governor of yours, you advocate seceding from the union. 235 people were sent to death during his tenure!!! Best not spit on the street while he's president of YOUR great nation. Cheeez. Every President from Texas that the "other" great nation has had has been war-crazy. Johnson, Papa Bush, Junior Bush. Be careful what you wish for! If your prez starts a war, that great nation of Texas of yours might have to fight alone!!!!

dxsopium...If that judge is an example of the "Great State of Texas", the Great State of Texas sucks. What right does any man have to beat any man, woman or child? Who gave these turds of manhood that right?

Your post proves what that Great State of Texas sometimes breeds: Men no better than Neanderthals and with just as little brains.

Big bad Texas man...BS. Big men with no brains. Only fists. This is the state that assassinated a president, executes innocent men with gusto and has had more nuts turning guns on their own than any other state in the union.

One more note:

MOMs (and Dads, to) with abusers that hit your kids. Leave. NOW. Find your nearest domestic violence shelter and get help. Protect your kids first. You want to have your grandkids around 30 years from now? You want a good relationship with your sons and daughters when they manage to escape the situation? Think about the future. He/she doesn't love you, he/she loves him/herself and sees you as property. You are the only one that can fix this for your kids.

When my mom and I get into it, to this day, she starts in with the "If I left him, you wouldn't have been born." Yeah, mom, but you know what? Then my mom wouldn't have been hit. Then my older brother wouldn't have been shaken as a baby. That would have been worth it.

KIDS living in abuse. Tell someone. Tell your favorite teacher, your Sunday school teacher, coach, school counsellor ... tell someone. Yeah, it sucks. Yeah, it might mean going to a foster home, but would that be better than living in constant fear? Is there an aunt, uncle, relative that you can go live with? Best outcome would be you speaking up will protect your mom and siblings. My sister did it for us, and I love her for it.

Janelle, So true. Prior to modern day tech children were left with just their word against the parent(s) and in many cases moms and dads supported their spouse like the judges wife did. The reasons why, other than psychological; many times there was no support from authorities, this was discipline if you were not on the receiving end, no real social services to turn to and in many cases as the daughter stated here she was afraid of the outcome if things were decided against her. Outside the family the elephant is a charming man/woman aka; normal.

He's a sick man and on top of his actions in his family he's responsible as a family court judge for making decisions on how other children will be treated.

Thanks for your candid post.

I wouldn't refer to him as a man, perhaps as a individual (I would not say person).

Yes, he should have turned her in for stealing music and let the system teach her not to steal.

Vivian, the "system" would have done absolutely nothing about what she did. Nothing. At most she would have received an cease and desist letter from the record company. That is the reality of this situation.

What she did wasn't right, but it is his reaction that we are concerned with here.

To dxsmopuim, Post #3.3:

To quote you, dxsmopuim:

"The worthless little bitch should have done as she was told ! She deserved every lash she got and should have gotten more ! The liberal left wing candy assed reaction to the beating is exactly why duhmerica has absolutely no future remaining ! This country is history ! duhmerica is now as worthless as her entire generation ! The great nation of Texas is all that will remain of this once great nation."

Your gender vulgarity, angry, violent, sick, dysfunctional comment about America certainly is very unpatriotic to say the least. May God help your sick mind to do what is right if you have any children, or decide to vote. It is people such as this, who are worthless in our society. Also, how low can a Tea Party Republican stoop in the guttural trenches to blame this long and excessive beating of a disabled child with a leather strap as the fault of the liberal left wing (as if it never happens on all sides of the fence)???? America does not need this kind of behavior. There is a very big difference between one or two reasonably applied spanks with the hand, and the beating with a leather strap for more than 7 minutes. Those children of the latter form of angry discipline tend to react negatively to something they know was not applied appropriately. Another-words, many of them learn the wrong lesson by displaying their anger in similar situations later on in life rather than a real understanding of what they did as a child was wrong. They react in the same way that was used on them for bad behavior. You never know when disciplining inappropriately could go wrong, and unintentionally cause the death of a child. Believe me, it's not always easy raising children in today's society with the right discipline while keeping anger in check. But, a cool calm approach punishment like restrictions, or taking away privileges (i.e. not being allowed to drive for a certain length of time, etc,) can have a far more reaching positive affect than any severe beating. As parents, we had a child, who stole candy from a store around the age of 4. After discussing it with the spouse. We called the store manager explaining what happened. We asked if we could bring the child back to the store with the candy for the child to explain to manager that candy was taken without paying for it. We asked if the manager would please talk to the child explaining the importance of the child's inappropriate behavior that could have consequences. We felt if someone else outside the family expressed our opinion that the child did something wrong, it might help support us as to why the child should not steal in the stores without paying for the items. The manager spoke with the child, which made quite of an impression on the youngster to say the least. Then the child gave money from their piggy bank to pay for the piece of candy already eaten (before we discovered the problem). Well, it worked!! That problem never came up again. The same child later in adult life said: The event made a definite impression and never would be forgotten." However, events are not always that easy to solve. And we made mistakes, too.

As for this Judge, since when has a Judge been authorized to beat an alleged or guilty criminals in court, or out of court?? This continually abusive JUDGE should be removed instantly from the bench PERMANENTLY. Then he should be required to take numerous hours in Anger Management 101 along with dzsmopuim. Thank you to the young lady for "outting" her abusive father, who makes judicial decisions on cases involving children. He isn't fit to be a Judge for anyone. Thanks to the mother, who admitted to her mistake. And let's hope that she did not do so because of getting caught on tape, or because her child custody case between her and the husband was coming up later in the court system.

ewent:

Not always. I have seen poverty stricken people, husband and wife, stick together with all this abuse is going on, i.e., the wife and the children. It's the wife's choice. Husband over child. She'll take the husband first.

It breaks my heart, because the wife, once again, has been so beaten down, she has no self esteem to think that she can make it on her own, even though this woman I refer to (in my life) makes the bigger earnings; the husband has no job. There are Safe Havens for Women living with Abusive men--they do not want to admit to the extensive problem (In Denial)

It is definitely a Stockholm Syndrome in this case. Unless, the woman thinks she deserves to be abused; and uses the child as a pawn in the marriage.

No way about it; the Child is Psychologically damaged for an an entire life, usually hating the other sex (parent) for ever---things happen. Especially, women who have been in abusive homes, turn to same gender partners.

*******NOTE FROM SANE CONSERVATIVE*********

Most conservatives abhor this behavior as much as liberals. This is a human, not political, issue. "Conservatives" who condone this behavior come from a place I can't even fathom.

Maui2,

"Especially, women who have been in abusive homes, turn to same gender partners."

If only you'd had stopped before this last sentence....

Same-sex "preference" has very little to do with "nurture" and almost everything to do with "nature."

Actually, BirdofParadise, Maui2 isn't completely wrong about that. There have been studies of abused women who enter same-sex relationships because of abuse, but wouldn't consider themselves as lesbian. I'll see if I can find something on that and post it.

Janelle -997119,

"...studies of abused women who enter same-sex relationships because of abuse, but wouldn't consider themselves as lesbian."

Thank you!

Yes, perhaps this is, realistically, an issue about nurture v. nature.

After childhood sexual abuse, I think I can understand any child's homosexuality, lesbianism or bi-sexuality. However (between you and me?) I don't want to send the thread off on some idiotic direction! OK?

Bless you....

Yes Janelle and BirdofParadise, I agree and many here posting have little knowledge of child (or adult) psychology. It's obvious by the posts. It's seems obvious the mom had issues or she would not have tolerated the abuse as long as she did and the reasons are to many. The likelihood of her having a similar childhood are great. What many miss in this discussion is what does it take to break the cycle?

For us to break the cycle ... first of all, our three-times a week of church attendance, plus youth group, summer church camp, youth trips and conventions are probably what kept us sane. We saw correct and loving behaviors modeled there. Education in a good school district helped. Having three siblings, just five years apart in ages, as support for each other during the blow ups kept us sane.

The "sweetheart" portion of the abuse relationship also had good times, too. But we never knew how long those would last or how to prevent the next blow up.

Then ... when my sister made the tape recording and one of us called the police, the officer also told us about a crisis center about a half-hour away, in another state. We spent two weeks there while dad and mom went through family court. We stayed with different friends from the church and then an great-aunt and uncle for a few months. Mom eventually went back, so did we. A year or so later, tho, we left for a year, mom got a job for the first time, there was a useless "christian counsellor" they saw ... but things generally improved after that. I love my parents, but I say that knowing my dad is still in many ways an @$$ and mom ... she chose to stay.

I should add, addiction never came into the equation. Dad does not drink, never has, and hates it when others do.

As to the mothers ... My mom was not abused as a child, but my grandfather was a very strict man who didn't believe in praising his children. Pride was one of the worst sins he could think of. He had a certain amount of pride in his want to be humble... and my mom had/has no self esteem at all, and grandma didn't talk to her about sex until the night before the wedding. too late and back then, mom didn't think she had any other options but to go through with the wedding.

Her sisters married abusers, too.

Janelle -997119,

I am not a Christian.

Please accept this?: God bless you.

Your post proves what that Great State of Texas sometimes breeds: Men no better than Neanderthals and with just as little brains.

Out of context, but Neanderthals actually had larger brain capacities than modern humans. It's quite possible that they were as intelligent as us, but we simply outcompeted them during leaner times due to our lighter dietary requirements.

Bird of Paradise and others responding to my comment.

I should have said, "Many times, in an child abuse situation, (sexual molestation, also), not all, but many of them turn to the same sex gender for partners. More so with women, than men.

This has been proven in the Medical Field, and Others who are experts in the field of Psychology--

True facts.

Please do research on this--

TIMING........When is a good time, compared to a bad time ????

Set up? Timing is suspect?

Maybe she should have received permission to document his abusive habits.

Timing would have been much worse for him had it been two years ago. You know, when he would have gone to jail for it. I see nothing strange about the timing.

Listen to the interview. This happened on a regular basis and there was an addiction component to the abuse. The daughter saw how things were going in the house and knew it was coming. So, she set up the camera. A half-hour later, the father came in to her room and the beating commenced. The mother agrees this is what happened. He admits he did it. He lost control. Abusers always blame the victim - they made him do it. BS.

This was not simple discipline for bad behavior. Had it been, when the mother spanked the child (and I think the belt should NEVER be used, but if it doesn't leave marks it is not illegal in TX) that would have been the end. But NO, he comes back into the room and says "I didn't get my hit, now lay on your stomach". He wanted to hit her! Not discipline her to teach her another way, but HIT.

Discipline means "to train". Punishment is a part of, but should not be the biggest part of, discipline.

You are soooo stupid. I don't care if he beat her 10 years ago or 20 years ago. He should be treated just like any other abuser of children. Punished to the full extent of the law. The only time he should be allowed in a courtroom is for another judge to put him in jail for the rest of his life. You talk about bad timing. You need a crowbar to pull your head out of your butt....

If you watch the Today show segment, you will understand why the camera was set up. She knew what signs to watch for and knew because it had happened before. This was not an isolated incident! I know when my children misbehave, i punish by taking away their possessions not their dignity or feeling of self worth!

Dad was set up? Re-read the article. Mom left dad when the girl was 6 MONTHS old because of the abusive dad. She regrets returning and staying there until four years ago. Sounds like this wasn't an isolated incident promoted or premeditated by the daughter.

ahsumtosser...nah...this is the way the judge gets off. His adrenalin pumps while he's beating his daughter. Then, he takes the old lady into the bedroom and it's yahhhhhhhhhhooooooooooo time. That's why the mother told her to "take it like a woman". She just didn't bother to define what "kind" of woman she meant.

ahsumtosser

The setup was his own doing. As judge responsible for the lives of children I don't think you will find him telling any parents to go home and beat the child into submission.

If the daughter was vindictive she would not be asking for or speaking out for him to seek help. She has helped break the cycle of violence.

The real setup is the lack of knowledge displayed by many of the posts here.

ahsumtosser...oh poor man...His ass callouses from sitting on the bench all day were too much? Isn't it just too bad that this highly overpaid judge can't control his anger?

This is what comes of Big Daddah making too much money and having women all his life kiss his spoiled ass.

Yes he should have arrested her as an officer of the court for stealing.

Set up??? Are you kidding? I could have had a camera running nonstop in my room when I was a kid and it would have never caught my dad beating me for 7 minutes with my mom helping. My dad would pop my butt when I deserved it, however a couple of pops was all it took. This man most likely got tired of swinging the belt after 7 minutes. Plus the child had CP. If my son killed someone I wouldn't beat him like the judge did. He should be off the bench and disbarred!!!

Ummm the thing about the idea of being "set-up" implies that you are set-up to get caught doing something wrong. If you don't do anything wrong then how can you be set-up? Especially if it's just a matter of your actions being caught on tape. No creative editing etc.

;-)

My thoughts exactly. Let me get this straight. Daughter sets up camera equipment and then does something that her parents said not to( like downloading illegal music files) and then gets pissed off that her parent's punish her? I don't see the problem in this case. She obviously wanted to provoke a reaction. I admit he should have stopped at one or two lashings and left it at that. But come on , they are both at fault!

Unhappy, what you fail to realize is that he probably beat her whenever she did anything he did not like. We do not know how long the camera was set up, if she did it for weeks or just that day. We do know from him and her that she downloaded a game. That does not justify taking a weapon (a belt) and beating someone 20 times into submission---using his own words. The fact that you continue to defend it is rather alarming.

Survey of parents. Would you rather your child obey you because they respect you or fear you?

What kind of response do you expect to get from a question like this? :-)

A child should never fear their parents. I think you are referring to the constant lingering fear this young woman expressed.

There is never anything accomplished by discipline based on fear except compliance.

Actually, tin, I was referring to all of those who said "good, she deserved it, she was disresectful". Now, from REASONABLE people I would expect "respect", but some here seem less than reasonable.

@ Unhappy, once again you've made me unhappy. What a bitter person you are. Hope you don't have any kids.

Tam,

I agree, I think most don't have children and the ones who post that their parents treated them as the judge did his daughter need help if they think it was a good thing.

Most haven't a clue on the difference between fear and respect. Parents want children to act like adults and when they attempt to do so they treat them like children, which is very confusing for the child. Any parent with minimal parenting skills knows it's always best to be calm and in control of emotions before deciding discipline.

I hear all the excuses the judge is expressing for why his daughter uploaded the video. I haven't heard his excuse for his abusive behavior. If he actually spanked her why would he feel the need to apologize?

I'm guessing as he gets older his denial will filter his actions entirely. I've lived that scenario already.

PS. The judge continues his controlling behavior in how he interacts with his daughter and ex-wife.

As a father of three I can say that I firmly believe in spanking a child, I got spanked and understood the difference between right and wrong. When my own children did something wrong I explained to them what they did and if they did it again they would receive a spanking. Two or three swats on the bottom with an open hand was more then enough to make the point. An explanation followed and reassurance that they were loved, but needed to strive to do the right things ended there with a hug. I grew up well adjusted, and if you ask any of them they feel having boundaries and consequences have made them what they are today. None of us have ever been to jail and I attribute it to good parenting. That said this was not a spanking of a child, he was in a fit of anger and on a total power trip. Beating a child with a belt, stopping then coming back and continuing is not a corrective measure it's a beating. Her mom is seen adding her two cents worth, I'm sorry but being controlled is one thing. If her actions were to keep any backlash off herself, why didn't she pull her punches? She clearly pulls back and let's her daughter have it. Then at what age do you stop spanking a child, and resort to more age appropriate discipline? 16 Seem a little old to me but I still think it's up to parents to decide. Addressing her setting up of her father, she states he did this regularly, he had already spanked her and his pattern was to return and continue. She set the camera up to finally record what she felt was abuse. There wasn't any baiting on her part to cause him to return, no taunting, no cursing at him through closed doors, no threats. I would not want to be judged by this man for my actions when the shoe was on the other foot, I think that's really what's in question here as to him staying on the bench. He can look at this and say he did nothing wrong, that it's all out of context. What would he say if looking at the video of someone else's father beating their teen daughter? Something tells me his opinion would be a lot different.

Perfectly stated Curtis.

The difference between an open-handed spanking and a beating with a belt is just a matter of degrees. no child needs violence to teach, and a spanking is violent. I never hit my child and he is a well-mannered kid who understands right from wrong. He also understands violence as a way of solving problems is wrong. You may teach your child right and wrong by smacking them, but you also teach them that hitting people, if you feel justified, is an ok thing to do.

If you have never been in or exposed to an abusive household, you will never understand why the mom acted like she did.

That mom really was powerless. Had the mom not been on 'his' side, he would have stopped beating the child, and turned on the mother. By 16 years into the marriage that mother has no self actuation. It's been beaten out of her.

You can sit there with your self esteem and pronounce how YOU wouldn't act like that if it were YOU, but you have not been subject to at least 16 years of torture and mind control. It's quite obvious that you do not have any concept of what it's like to be that powerless. Nor do you have any understanding of family dysfunction.

I would suggest that you do 2 weeks worth of volunteer work with victims of domestic abuse. I guarantee you will come to realize how this happened and who the fault lies with.

Of course the worthless POS is going to claim 'it wasn't that bad'. What he really means is: "psh, that's nothing compared to the couple of times i REALLY let 'em have it... They deserved it too."

I can think of no better punishment than for that judge than to spend some time in the jail as an inmate. There's probably more than a few there that would like to return the hospitality with interest...

This video did make me sick to my stomach but I do agree with Curtis. I am a grandmother now but I did swat my little ones on the bottom a time or two. I doubt they felt it what with clothers and a diaper! Recently my 3 yr old grandson, as I was watching him thought it would be funny to run into the streeet and take off. He went a half block before this 60 yr old out of shape woman could catch him. I did swat his bottom and once again through clothes and diaper I doubt he felt much BUT to this day even his mother said where once he would take off running now he does not. I held him and told him I love him after about 5 minutes of him thinking about it. All was forgiven - he knows I love him with all my heart, we have a special bond. Just saying a swat on the butt and a belt way different. Sometimes people now think a swat on the buttocks is HORRIBLE - but children today get away with so much they have no clue how to be productive grown ups because they have had no peramitters. So sad.

Triptolemus...No...that mother was a typical kiss ass to her old man. It's Big Daddah adoration the mother never got over. She wasn't helpless. Would you let a man beat one of your kids with a belt and stand there and tell them to "take it like a woman"?

That mother was so used to kissing up to Big Daddah's paycheck she can't get out and make it on her own. Sorry, I was a single Mom. Been there done that. Enough said. At 4'10" tall, any idiot 6 ft man who ever tried to abuse either of my kids would lose his family jewels in a heartbeat.

Trip, The comment is correct. Without being there or living it a person doesn't really know. With that said, The moms actions were not correct. I hope both/all seek help.

If a parent thinks they need to raise their hand to a discipline a child it's time to rethink your parenting skills.

It's called "Battered Woman's Syndrome", where the woman becomes completely powerless. You do whatever is necessary to appease the abuser. After time , appeasing the abuser does not work any more.

Hedda Nausbaum is the virtual icon for what happens with a man so obsessed with control that he'd kill a child he illegally adopted and then batter his wife beyond recognition...THAT'S a battered wife.

No battered wife with any sense of self-respect or love for her children stands by and encourages her old SOB old man to beat her own child.

Sorry, this mother lived large for too long on a judge's hotcha salary and wasn't about to give up her cushy cushy life. She wanted for nothing.

And, if this girl was 16, what the hell took Big Momma so long to figure out her old man had a problem and was potentially dangerous to her children?

Wrong...She stayed because she loved the benefits of her cushy life. Her disabled daughter was just an embarrassment to these Texas married harlots who think more of their looks and live all too vicariously through their trophy kids.

my314tin,

You obviously don't believe in corporal punishment, and I respect that. Many parents have raised fine, upstanding and responsible children this way.

However, please keep in mind that many parents have raised "upstanding and responsible" children "by the paddle" as well. It was not uncommon in the '40's and '50's to take a belt to a child's behind...and as much as I disagree with using any implement to hit a child with, it seemed to work for many generations of children.

Understand: I don't condone what this person did to his 16 year-old daughter. Sixteen is *far* too old for a "whuppin" in any case...and what this person did wasn't a spanking...it was a vicious beating. That's my own opinion, and others may disagree.

But spanking your child for misbehaving? I don't think that makes bad parenting.

Too many people raised this way sat those previously red posteriors in the Oval Office for that to be true.

Well said, Curtis!

I wonder how many cases involving children that this "judge" presided over will be revisited now that everyone can see he is clearly lacking in the single most important quality a judge should possess, which is good judgement! He is clearly an abusive monster who sat in a position of authority and power in his community and views himself as untouchable. He was right for a long while, but now his own warped actions, words and feelings of entitlement have come back to whip HIM in the a$$.

To those of you on this board who think the judge's daughter is trying to be vindictive, I strongly disagree. It sounds like she tried to get her father to understand what he did to her (over and over) was not merely a parent correcting their child, it was out and out abuse. This was more about trying to get him to be accountable for his bad behavior toward her, just between the two of them. Being the self-important d-bag that he is, he just dug in his heels in a moment that should have been his opportunity to learn from his mistakes and to finally give his daughter the sincere apology she deserves, just between the two of them. Instead he added even more heartache by justifying (in his own mind) his regular beatings of her. There is NOTHING this child could have done that would ever justify a parent assaulting her! If a stranger the same age as her father walked up to a 16 year-old girl and beat her with a strap (or even a bare hand), I really doubt there would be anything he could say that would keep him from being charged with assault, or worse! The fact that it was her own parents that did this makes it even more abhorrent.

If she really wanted her father to get in the type of trouble he truly deserves she would have turned that video in long ago and avoided be beaten and debased for many more years by the sperm-donor she calls a dad. I've been in her shoes and I can tell you that the video was made so she could make her parents see their behavior from a different perspective so, hopefully, things would change. When her father wasn't sorry after seeing himself on that video and a complete jerk on top of everything else after all these years, I'm willing to bet that she felt releasing that video was the ONLY way she may ever get her father to "get it" and own that what he did and how he thought back then was wrong. Apparently nothing has changed his pattern of behavior and thinking, which is very scary given that he is a Family Court judge! Now he can answer to his colleagues, the bar and the court of public opinion.

You poeple are hypocrites. Get the whole story. While his beating was probably over the top - the rest of the story is that his daughter was illegally downloading music over the internet. This is the timeframe when another family just lost a lawsuit and had to pay $6M for downloading mustic.

So - what would you do if (1) you were in a high visibilty job (and expected to be a paragon of society) and (2) your child was putting your family in massive jeopardy?

I realize that you all would probably choose to lose your reputation, walk away from your career and lose your house and life savings to support your 'darling little thief', but I think that I might loose my temper over this.

And I think that the recording organizations should now use the tape to sue the daughter for everything that she has. She is admiting to illegally downloading music. This is ILLEGAL. WHAT PART OF ILLEGAL IS UNCLEAR?

So beating your child to save your reputation is ok?

The father ILLEGALLY beat his child. So to teach your child not to break a law, you break the law?

Shartorius

I guess the easiest way for me to defend my position is to post a good reason. Along with supporting physical abuse they support emotional abuse.

BTW you retards, Child Abuse program was developed to protect children who did not do any wrong doing and prevent seriously bodily injury. IT was NOT designed to prevent discipline. No wonder our country is going down the toilot, looking back, we had to good in the 70s and 80s. Something you little man kids would not know.

The most pathetic part of the response other than the third word used is a lack of knowledge regarding child abuse. The first question on the test would be; Why is it necessary to have a child abuse program? The second question would be; If we have been doing it this way in the past does this make the action correct?

my314tin,

Good points...especially about questioning what we did in the past. To be sure, not everything in "the good ol' days" was good.

To defend *my* position, when used responsibly, I believe corporal punishment has its place as a legitimate method of discipline. I was raised with it...so were my parents, so were theirs, ad infinitum.

And to your point of not emulating history when history is wrong, everyone in my family who never "spared the rod" raised great, intelligent and well-balanced children. In this regard, my own defense is that "the proof is in the pudding".

As I said, however, there are many kids today who are well behaved and never had a parent touch them. There's proof in that pudding, too.

There are pros and cons to each side, I suppose. It all depends on the circumstances, the child and the parent.

All children do something wrong. Its called an undeveloped brains and lack of impulse control. Whats the father excuse for hitting the girl with a belt, he's an educated adult. Its abuse and illegal because one wrong hit with that belt and he could have caused an perminate injury or death. What if the girl fell while being hit and hit her head? Did she deserve to be punished for illegally downloading music, yes. So take her computer away or don't give an allowance or what she wanted for Christmas. Take away the cell phone or punish her to the house and cant go out with friends. Discipline can come in many forms, but no one and I mean no one has the right whip someone with a belt. Its wrong and you know it. Violence usually begets violence.

I agree with you...all these self righteous folks sitting and passing their judgement...Do any of you know about this girl, if she was speaking the truth or not. The story says that she used this video to black mail her dad recently when they had a series of fall outs.

He disciplined her for stealing music not just go around beating her for no reason, maybe just maybe this girl was some one who did illegal stuff and the judge was at the end of his rope trying to discipline and correct her....holding on to this video for so long and putting it out when she has a dispute with her father doesn't speak too well of her and it is black mail...so please get of your high horse and give the judge the benefit of the doubt until you know the full story...and to all those of you who don't spank your kids, maybe just maybe its people like you who have contributed to raising up kids who are so undisciplined and disrespectful in our society today, would like to know how is it working for your child giving them just time off or taking privileges away for bad behavior...that hasn't worked one bit with my six year old but just a threat of a spanking will get him to behave

There is a proverb that says "spare the rod and spoil the child" and that is exactly what you all self justified folks are doing. The Bible says the same too.

Sp, I'm not sure which is worse, dispensing abuse and calling it discipline or dispensing falsehoods and calling it justification for abuse.

There is nothing written in the Bible that states spare the rod and spoil the child.

In regard to proverbs; Judge who beats daughter and calls it discipline will receive full order of the law.

He knows what he did is wrong and if he thought it fell within the guidelines of proper discipline he would not be running.

Well let's say the daughter hatched this plan at age 16, a little far fetched but ok. If you watched the video, I have several times and maybe I'm wrong but as a parent words came along with what my child did wrong to deserve being spanked. This isn't the first time you pulled this, we keep having this problem over and over why do you not understand what's wrong here. The man never says to her I’ve told you not to do this again, no mention of a continuing problem. I never said to my child you will submit to me, or turn over or I'll whip your fricken face, no one can tell me those actions are acceptable. I fully agree she was wrong doing what she did and needed to be punished. He being a judge one would think he knows that the punishment should fit the crime. At the time all of this was going on a lot of teens as well as adults were downloading via napster. Word got around fast about a site where you could download music and games for free, even napster clamed it was legal. Once things got heated and law suites started being filed and the site was shut down the damage had already been done and everyone was in a panic they might be sued. If my 16 year old child had done this and I was a judge one would expect me to do the right thing. First correcting my child about the fact what was accruing was criminal, then taking steps as a parent to make sure it didn't continue by removing their computer and internet access. Then being in my said position my next step would be bringing the crime to light in a public forum. Where my child had to face the crime head on and gain a better understanding for the laws broken. I would think my respect level would have jumped and my child might have had to deal with the legal system anyone else has to face. No cover up, child abuse, no loss of position, just a better understanding of real people dealing squarely with the laws set. So many times when these things come to light someone in power is trying to get their child off and keep trouble covered up. This in my honest opinion is far worse, and the wrong message to send to the public. As to her mother being abused and my having little to no idea what goes on to cause a parent to act as she did, you’re right I don’t have an education in this area. I’m sure this type of abuse is extremely bad, and one might act in ways I can’t understand. I hope she is getting the help she needs to recover from this abuse; her first step in getting out of the abusive relationship was a hard hurdle in it’s self I’m sure and a very brave move. The young lady in my opinion tried to mend fences in the family’s relationship, and her father wasn’t having anything to do with it. No mention of blackmail, just the last straw that finally made her use what little she had to make her dad see the damage he caused. If it had been her evil plan to do harm to his reputation and get back at him. It seems she would have been smart enough to hit him where it really hurt, and turned him in as soon as she was out on her own. Should he be forced to face his demands, and be removed from office? I fully stand on what I said earlier, I would not want to face him in court, being accused of a like crime. I wish the best for this young ladies future and I hope this pattern of abuse will be broken.

Curtis, I don't agree with you, but your methodology would be far from my intervention! Bottom line that we can agree on is that this man was abusive and needs to be removed from family court. I would hope that those that don't see anything wrong with it would consider how easy it is to remove the privileges as opposed to hiring an attorney to defend theirself.

Bencas, I fully respect your opinion and the fact that your very polite in disagreeing with me. I'd be very interested to learn from you how you see this issue best dealt with. As a sitting judge in control of other parents fate on cases brought to law enforcements attention, for the same actions he himself was guilty of, and I say guilty due to his action being far from acceptable IMHO. I do not have grandchildren, and knowing at some point I might. I'm open to options of how one deals with the younger generation, who seem to be out of control and left behind. I do understand that my grandparents looked at my generation with opinions we got away with far to much.

Thanks for you response

"unfit parents" feed their kids junk food, let them behave like animals, etc... these people are child abusers.

They deserve jail time along with the beatings that typically occur to incarcerated child abusers... call it karma.

They were unfit parents. The girl is a woman now. I think both parents are awful people. However, the girl should have taken the video to the police, and taken it when it happened. She should not be releasing it years later on YouTube because her dad won't do what she wants him to. I question how traumatized she is if her silence about the abuse has a clear dollar sign attached to it.

If the parents didn't like what she was doing on the computer....ummm there are software packages to control the use of it.

That was not discipline - that was flat out domestic abuse. Montanagirl is probably someone who'd do the same thing to her kids.

Don't forget that this girl also has Cerebral Palsy.

He's beating a disabled child. It makes me sick.

Maybe you should reread what Motanagirl posted. The way I read it she states he crossed the line. No where does she condone his actions.

@m2cents? Really? There are a billion of those out on the market. I have yet to meet an accomplished computer "Kid" that cannot circumvent any of those. And quite honestly, other than SMI (sony) the other companies stopped fighting the hackers and turned it into stand alone players (to attempt to further prevent hacking). They are still losing to the legions of nerds out there downloading free stuff. Remember the same people that make the computer virus' are the same ones employed to make the repair disks. They "find" ways to hack their own programs so that they can fix it, continuous income that way.

m2cents, character is what you do when you think nobody is watching (something the judge in this story doesn't have much of). Forcing compliance (via control software) is not the same as educating a child why a particular behaviour is wrong, why you don't want them to do it, and them CHOOSING to do the right thing on their own (and not just at those times when they think they might get caught). You shouldn't have to put a padlock on your liquor cabinet to keep your kids out, or lock up your car keys to keep them from driving off without permission (have a niece that did this once, could barely reach the pedals, sideswiped several other vehicles because she didn't actually know how to drive). If they have the opportunity to do the right thing as a matter of choice (and not by force), you don't have to worry so much what they do when they are out of your sight.

gimmeabreak, nice theory, but can we step into reality? Kids are impulsive and from a developmental perspective, do not see the big picture. Some are compliant, but others think on their own and therefore push the envelope. That is why they have PARENTS.

There is a reason that software to block sites exist, the liquor stores card people who look young and cell phone companies provide parental controls that allow parents to turn off service and identify the location of the child. Kids do not always make the right choices. That, of course, does not justify a beating. It is a teaching opportunity.

I was thinking the same thing!! Good for her that she is safely out of his control and is able to look back a bit more objectively and realize that it was her father's issue, and see how wrong he was. She still has a little sister to think about, who should be about 16 right now. And HE wants to sue for custody? Ummm....I don't think so!!!

That's what I thought, HIM get custody?? That is beyond ridiculous, and shows how out of touch with reality he is to even think he would be eligible.

30% of abusive fathers do get sole custody, by using the legal strategy called "parental alientation syndrome".

Until the video came out, the judge was a highly respected pillar of the community. He stood a VERY good chance of getting custody of the younger daughter. Perhaps that is why the now 23 year old released this video now. It is very unlikely that he would even get custody of the family dog, now (if they had one, that is).

At one point, the man says to his near-hysterical daughter, "What happened to you, Hillary? Once you were an obedient, nice little girl. Now you lie, cheat and steal." This is a post on CNN from that video....There is more to this story than what has been told here...I think this girl was being disciplined for cheating, stealing etc. and the father probably was simply at his ropes end...it is obvious that she was black mailing him using the video as he asked her to return is Mercedes...I think she is a cheating, conniving, spoiled brat and is taking revenge cause she is not getting her way...if the dad was so bad how come he got her a Mercedes....I think the dad cares enough about her to discipline her....if my daughter was constantly cheating, stealing and lying I would be at my wits end too and would be desperate and loose it....try taking privileges away or giving a time out to a girl who steals and cheats at age 16, it sure would work wonders to correct hyer.... go figure you'll

Many abusers make exagerated or outrageous accusations while in the midst of abuse or later to justify it. We know she did the one thing she admitted, downloading illegal music. As to the other things dad said while beating her, we just don't know. It also is very typical of abusers to be generous with things, but use those same things as a means of control and manipulation. Again, we just don't really know what is truly going on with dad and the Mercedes car and the daughter.

But this is what we do know: 7 minutes of screaming, cussing and beating with a belt is abuse. Abuse happened frequently enough that daughter rightly assumed setting up a camera in her room would catch it. A person who beats and verbally abuses his own child, and according to his ex-wife, also his wife, has no place being a judge in family court.

This "judge" made some very controversial rulings in cases involving children, so these cases are all going to get reviewed.

Stick a fork in him - he's done as a judge. His daughter was right to expose him.

Oh geez, did not know about his conduct on the bench. Review away, that should make for some interesting news stories as well.

I agree, the mother is the one who started this beating by telling the father that the girl had downloaded the games. Since this abuse has gone on for a while and been escalating (according to the girl), the mother knew exactly what was going to happen.

Kelly, Obviously you have never been in an abusive relationship and I hope you never find yourself in one. She was not an equal participant, and actually the count was 18 to 1. What is interesting if you watch the video again, is the mom did protect the daughter in the way she knew best at the time. While he was in his frenzy, the mom came in and distracted, took away his belt, and actually kept it from him. He tried to grab it twice and when she wouldn't give it up, he left the room and got another. She then spanked her butt, once. I am sure you can see this side of it now. Of course it would be better to leave, but in that circumstance, standing there with your abuser, chances are you wouldn't grab anything, but you would do what she did. I left my abuser before my son was ever touched, but I had a very good support system...

As a mother I cannot imaging standing by an watching someone/anyone, even the father, beat on my child like he was doing. I would have gone all mama bear on him to protect her and would have called the police. I do not understand how she participated in this. But then again I am not in her shoes, and have not been abused. Still she is culpable as an accomplice in my opinion.

There is no excuse for the girl's mother to participate in the beatings - period! However, calling the police on her husband, a judge in their community, wasn't really an option, as it would only serve to piss her d-bag husband off even more! Especially once he got called on the carpet for it on any level, only to ultimately have his bad behavior swept under the rug. It would just embolden him to do even worse in the future, because now he knows he can get away with it on a public level. If her husband is willing to regularly beat his own daughter, who also has CP, then what else is he capable of?

If that girl hadn't gotten absolute proof of her father's ongoing, sadistic, disgusting behavior and mind-set, would ANYONE have believed her? There actually IS video proof of his cruelty and there are STILL those on this board that put all of their efforts into twisting this into the daughter being the one to blame - like she deserved it?!?! A good parent doesn't need to employ that kind of tactic in order to teach their child right from wrong. So when the beating doesn't get the point across to their kid, then what, just kill them? If they were such great parents to start with, then their kids wouldn't be so bad, right? If the beatings were teaching her right from wrong, then why did she still do things wrong? Sounds like no matter what level of mistake she made, the punishment (not correction) was ALWAYS the same - physical abuse.

I don't NEED to know the details of their relationship to KNOW that whatever that kid did at ANY age, she does not deserve to be beaten.

Based on his methods for teaching right from wrong, then I think that since I don't like what the judge did to his daughter in that video, I should be able to take a strap to the judge, right? If I'm thinking like the judge, then all that matters is that, in MY mind, I have a good enough excuse to physically attack another human being - end of story... Let's see if the good judge agrees with his own teaching style then! Hopefully he'll get his correction in jail using the "Tossed Salad" method!!! Syrup or jelly with your salad, Judge?

Wouldn't be surprised if mom was trying to hold on long enough for younger child to request who she wanted to live with. It is surprising how often abusers end up with the kids. That is the primary reason many women stay, because they know their abuser will go for custody. And since he is a judge, she would have had a very hard battle to get custody before the child could make the request.

Anthony...As I recall, in that Joel Steinberg trial, he also said he was "disciplining" the daughter who ended up dead.

He isn't fit for the bar. The Bar Association of Texas should think about revoking his license. Even though he can't be charged now, he clearly broke the law 7 years ago.

Differ, he was CAUGHT breaking the law 7 years ago. Who knows if there is still abuse against the younger child. I hope this girl speaking out will give her sibling courage to do the same if he/she is being abused. Or any abused kid. Kids often don't speak out because they don't realize this isn't "normal". They've never known anything else. As awful as this was, maybe the release of the video can be a chance for many other kids to come forward. (Sad that there are many others that may need to.)

The Texas Bar Association are so screwed up they look the other way rather than take out one of their good ole bois.

Take it like a woman??? What does that even mean?? That because you are a woman (or will be some day), that you deserve to be beaten by a man? And this coming from your Mother? Wow. I am amazed at how well adjusted this young lady seems to have turned out. And forgiving too...

Speaks volumes, doesn't it. Mom may have been beaten and didn't throw a fuss about it.

Mom may have liked it.

It sounds like Mom was beaten by Dad, too. And to all you "good Christians"...I'm sure no one out there is perfect so how bout lining up for your beating...er...dicipline... for all the little sins you've committed. We'll be kind and only beat you for 6 minutes with a leather strap for every offense. Lord, save me from your followers as they are the least loving, caring and kind people I have ever had the misfortune to come across. Remember..."as you do to the lease of these, you do also to me" (paraphrasing)

The child was caught stealing. If her parents would not correct her, society will. Having worked for the state, when the state takes over it is worse than any beating. Plus, this brat dropped out of school,so Daddy took away her Mercedes and lowered her allowance. No sympathy here. If she would have released it a few years ago, I would have had much more compassion for her. I think she released the video for reasons that are not as noble as she would like us all to believe.

not nobel, well her father that beat her(his words in the tape) is going after custudy of the younger daughter

I just watched this video. I was totally out of place on my previous comment. The man is a monster, not a father.

Should the girl have been disciplined for stealing? Absolutly. But this was a beating mentally and physically. You dont talk to your child that way, ever.

One can hope!

mike ur an assh*** !

And this is what education did for this guy? The best law education and then hotcha seat on the bench and this is what it did for him? A Lorena Bobbit isn't good enough for this piece of gunk.