Spanking/Beating . . . Hard To Tell the Difference in Texas!

I wrote an article this past June about a mother, Rosalinda Gonzales being brought up on charges by a judge for “beating” her child when she had spanked her daughter’s butt. She then lost custody of her other children. She was reprimanded for spanking by the Judge on her case, he stated that spanking was a punishment we should no longer practice.

Fast forward to this case in the news of the video beating/whipping on YouTube of then 16 yr. old handicapped Hillary Adams by father Judge William Adams. He “claims” it was a spanking for her infraction of having stolen something. The something was usage of and free downloads on the computer. What fateful irony! The computer takes him down! Ha!

Since this happened I believe the wife/mother Hallie has left the monster man. Can you blame her? The YouTube video makes it look as if she’s duplicitous, not so. She was in fear for herself as he apparently abused her, too.

What is amazing is the same justice system that took Rosalinda Gonzales’ children away and fined her in June is not going to charge Judge William Adams or terminate him. He will keep his job as a Family Court Judge.  It seems to depend on who you are how the terms on spanking/beating is determined.

Here is the statute I could find on Texas law on spanking:

TEXAS

Abuse does not include reasonable discipline by a parent/guardian/managing or possessory conservator if child not exposed to substantial risk of harm. Family Code Sec. 261.001.[Ci.] Parent/stepparent/person standing in loco parentis to child is justified to use non-deadly force against a child under 18 when and to degree the actor reasonably believes necessary to discipline, or safeguard or promote child’s welfare. Penal Sec. 9.61.[Cr.]

Well, I can not speak for anyone else, but in my humble opinion, the YouTube viral video beating of Hillary Adams by her father the Honorable (?) Judge William Adams who is the current (?) Aransas County Court-At-Law Judge should put him under suspicion and questionable for his actions and conduct. If you have been able to stomach the beating, you will see it is by no means a simple spanking as the father states and maintains.

He is busy cursing at his daughter during the whole thing. It is very disturbing. A father should never use those words with their child, though that may unfortunately happen in this non-perfect world but should never happen during the administering of said spanking/beating. A person of power over a child should try to control their anger, and if not in control should administer the physical punishment after they get themselves under control.

There are questions of why the daughter came out with the video 7 years later, can you blame her? If that was my father, I’d still be scared of him and I’m in my 40’s!

I was “spanked” during my childhood but it looked nothing like that beating! My father spanked me on my butt with his hand when I was a young child. I don’t necessarily approve of any spanking, but I had no power or choice. I remember it to this day, but harbor no anger, it was a light spanking, not a beating! Yes, it was what was done then and it was after an infraction when my sister and I wouldn’t stop what we were doing after many warnings.

To think there are not going to be any charges brought against this man, that he won’t pay with his job, pay any fines, etc. seems unfair. Then again, the daughter was a smart girl… she was prepared for another beating. Obviously it was a common enough occurrence that she was ready with her hidden video camera. So the father will pay the price if only by the embarrassment . . . I hope. The man clearly needs help.

What do you think?

Written by Evelyn Garone 11/6/11