Texas Judge Will Not Be Charged for Severely Beating His Daughter

[Not G. Ivingname]

the guy probably had connections or the US justice system is more backwards then people have thought.

No, it's the statue of limitations. It prevents prosecutors from charging you for crimes you committed years ago, and encourages investagations to be made quickly. Some crimes don't have a limit (such as 1st degree murder, kidnapping, and rape) but assault isn't one of them. However, I doubt he is going to be let to ever see another trial ever again.

 

[Owyn_Merrilin]

I really don't see what the problem is, I think the father was in the right. His daughter was downloading music and games illegally and she should've known better. When your father is a judge, you don't do anything illegal, especially when you're that young. It not only reflect poorly on the child, it reflects poorly on the parents. Corporal punishment, in my opinion, is much better than criminal charges of any kind. I'm tired of people thinking that a little physical punishment is child abuse. I'm not unreasonable, there is a point when enough is enough, but from what I saw in that video, that wasn't excessive. I've been beaten by my parents, I'm sure most people have, and I deserved every one of those beatings. It was those experiences that shaped me into who I am and I'm a better person for it. I think people are blowing this way out of proportion.

There's a point to this. The thread title here is truly hyperbolic. She was not "severely" beaten. If she had been, she would be black and blue all over, and blood would have been flowing. I'm not saying her father's response was appropriate (although, as you point out, it may not have been entirely inappropriate), but I am saying that calling this a "severe" beating is doing a disservice the the children who actually are severely beaten by their parents. This is just the tip of the iceberg, people.

Edit: Case in point, this post from the comments section of the provided link:

As someone who's lived through a childhood of abuse, this made me extremely hurt and angry. My father has been an alcoholic since I was a little girl, and I'd be clubbed with shoes, belts, have my head banged into walls and tables, told I was worth nothing to anybody, was ugly, and had crystal bowls smashed on my face when my mum and dad weren't happy with me, which was most of the time. I was top of my class right up until I went to uni, was in MENSA at 13, am a singer and a pianist, but nothing was ever good enough. I'm 20 now and part of me loves them, but a lot of me feels an intense hatred for the people who told me,and still tell me I'm ugly, fat, unlovable, and matter to nobody in this world. ( I still live with them as I'm in my final year of uni in my hometown.) I wanted to give this man a good beating myself. Just reliving my past pain and crying.

Where was the internet outrage for this poor woman? She was abused so, so much more severely than what we see in the video suggests. I almost hit the "report abuse" button in the corner before I remembered that it would actually report her for abusing the comments section, and not her parents for abusing her.

 

[Aeonknight]

I really don't see what the problem is, I think the father was in the right. His daughter was downloading music and games illegally and she should've known better. When your father is a judge, you don't do anything illegal, especially when you're that young. It not only reflect poorly on the child, it reflects poorly on the parents. Corporal punishment, in my opinion, is much better than criminal charges of any kind. I'm tired of people thinking that a little physical punishment is child abuse. I'm not unreasonable, there is a point when enough is enough, but from what I saw in that video, that wasn't excessive. I've been beaten by my parents, I'm sure most people have, and I deserved every one of those beatings. It was those experiences that shaped me into who I am and I'm a better person for it. I think people are blowing this way out of proportion.

Here's the problem with your statement.

There were plenty of viable alternatives to stop her from pirating things. If the judge was smart enough to recognize what she was doing to begin with, then he should be smart enough to know how to put a stop to it. Confiscate her computer, cancel the internet service, blocking websites, etc. There were plenty of alternatives to "gettin mah belt" he could've pursued. If you've been physically beaten worse by your parents, that sucks. Genuinely. But that doesn't give you the right to downplay how wrong it actually is. This isn't a pissing contest between who's daddy hits them harder.

I do agree that discipline is SORELY missing in households nowadays. But this ain't discipline, this is an asshole on a power trip. As for his justification, which do you think looks worse on his appearance? The 16 yr old teenage daughter pirates music? Or the full grown Judge, who probably has a better understanding of legal and illegal compared to most people, performing child abuse?

 

[AnotherAvatar]

Our justice system is a boys club. More so in Texas I'd imagine.

 

[JoesshittyOs]

that expiry date sucks... so people now if you wanna commit any crimes from now on... make sure you keep it hidden for 5 years.. then you can tell anyone you want after that because they cant try you! again another reason the legal system needs a major update and overhaul its a flippin joke

No, it's there for a good reason.

Let's say if a 18 year old has sex with a 16 year old, she can't hold that over his head and ruin his life later on. It's to prevent blackmail frauds.

 

[Caff]

Then what is a parent to do when their child keeps making decisions that conflict with the law? Honestly, I've broken the law only twice and my dad took the belt to me twice, I learned my lesson. If your kid's going to willing break the law when groundings and rants won't do anything, sometimes a belt is needed.

I still stand by my earlier comment about, hitting a child is weakness.

kids are going to do stupid stuff that much is certain and they need to know boundaries, but if you can't do that without hitting you seriously fail at parenting (in my eyes at least) I won't argue that you shouldn't do the tight hold of your childs arm when he/she isn't listing or is misbehaving in a way that inflicts harm on other kids near and all that.

I have never been on the "wrong" side of the law myself (not seriously at least) but still enough to get a reaction from both of my parents, and never have they showed any thought of hitting me. I still learned my lesson in the way that they scolded me and the respect that I have for them did the rest because I felt bad.

And that draws me to the weakness part again, IF your child can't learn a lesson from YOU, the parent, just from a scolding or a non-violent punishment, then you as a parent didn't do your work properly. In my eyes children are supposed to love and respect you.

You can always argue that hitting is the only way and that it teaches them a lesson fast and thoroughly (even though I disagree with that) but why take the short route, why not treat them as you will want to be treated. If you as a parent for instance break a car or hit another person (it happens) you don't go over to your child, hands him a belt and says "Now Son I want you to hit my ass real hard with this belt as hard as you can, because I did it to you" not only are you not going to do that it is also a little disturbing... and I guess illegal, but the point still stands.

 

[Charli]

His career is now ruined, take small comfort in that...

 

[Tselis]

What. The. Fuck?!

 

[Gmans uncle]

Texas: America's capital for everything that's wrong with society!
Seriously, I'm getting tired of that place, next time they threaten to secede from the union, I say we let them.

 

[violinist1129]

Then what is a parent to do when their child keeps making decisions that conflict with the law? Honestly, I've broken the law only twice and my dad took the belt to me twice, I learned my lesson. If your kid's going to willing break the law when groundings and rants won't do anything, sometimes a belt is needed.

I still stand by my earlier comment about, hitting a child is weakness.

kids are going to do stupid stuff that much is certain and they need to know boundaries, but if you can't do that without hitting you seriously fail at parenting (in my eyes at least) I won't argue that you shouldn't do the tight hold of your childs arm when he/she isn't listing or is misbehaving in a way that inflicts harm on other kids near and all that.

I have never been on the "wrong" side of the law myself (not seriously at least) but still enough to get a reaction from both of my parents, and never have they showed any thought of hitting me. I still learned my lesson in the way that they scolded me and the respect that I have for them did the rest because I felt bad.

And that draws me to the weakness part again, IF your child can't learn a lesson from YOU, the parent, just from a scolding or a non-violent punishment, then you as a parent didn't do your work properly. In my eyes children are supposed to love and respect you.

You can always argue that hitting is the only way and that it teaches them a lesson fast and thoroughly (even though I disagree with that) but why take the short route, why not treat them as you will want to be treated. If you as a parent for instance break a car or hit another person (it happens) you don't go over to your child, hands him a belt and says "Now Son I want you to hit my ass real hard with this belt as hard as you can, because I did it to you" not only are you not going to do that it is also a little disturbing... and I guess illegal, but the point still stands.

I just want to ask, have you ever been a parent? Parenting has always been one of those topics that people love to postulate on without experience. I've never been an astronaut, so I don't have opinions on astronaut safety regulations. I've never been a parent, so I will tend to not judge without knowledge. What I do know is that I was a very violent child (elementary age) if the punishment for attacking another child wasn't a beating, It is very likely that I never would have grown out of it. Should she have known better? Yes. Does Cerebral Palsy affect intelligence? No. Was his reaction to her crime justified? Not to the extent that he did it perhaps, but you will notice that there is no mention of bruises or cuts resulting from this or any other beating. If there were, it would almost certainly be used as ammunition against the judge. Again, don't be so quick to judge others based on limited experience.

Disclaimer:I am not claiming to be any more experienced than you. I am not a parent.

 

[Tortilla the Hun]

If you've been physically beaten worse by your parents, that sucks. Genuinely. But that doesn't give you the right to downplay how wrong it actually is. This isn't a pissing contest between who's daddy hits them harder.

As for his justification, which do you think looks worse on his appearance? The 16 yr old teenage daughter pirates music? Or the full grown Judge, who probably has a better understanding of legal and illegal compared to most people, performing child abuse?

First off, I wasn't making this into a pissing contest, I was stating that it's not the worst that has been done, although people do have very different levels of tolerance for these things.

Secondly, the man was within his rights, according to the Texas child abuse laws, and what he did was not child abuse. The belting caused neither "observable and material impairment" nor "substantial harm" and exposure to substantial harm.

So, if you don't mind, I'd like my soapbox back please.

 

[Smagmuck_]

SNIP

Very well.

I'm taking most of my argument from family history. With my father growing up in a similar household and turning out as a fantastic individual. I guess kids are going to be kids, if they're not going to learn, I guess a good toss into a pool will teach themLong story short, my 23 year old enlisted brother got tossed into one when our dad found out about his DUI....

You have a very good mastery of the English Language!

 

[Caff]

SNIP

Well I mostly speak of family history, own opinion and a little bit of work (have been working with 3-6 year olds and those kids do ALL the things you don't want them to do )

but we both got our points across I and I enjoyed this conversation

 

[ScreamingNinja]

I'm a parent. And there's really no need to beat a child like this. To those who say 'OH THIS ISN'T SEVERLY BEATING!! THERE'S WORSE OUT THERE!' STFU and get out. Sure, nothing was broken. Sure, she wasn't thrown into anything, etc. She was hit, with a belt, so many times it's not funny. It's a beating, pure and simple. And it's still wrong.

Oh, she was stealing? So what? Ground them, do what that other guy up there said and take away her computer, give her lots of chores. Our eldest caused a lot of trouble, back chatting, fighting with her sister, the rest of it. She's grounded for two weeks, bed at 7pm, has to clean her room every day after school, has to do homework as soon as she's home, etc. She's behaving now, because guess what? It's boring.

You don't need to beat your child. You don't need to hurt them like this.

And if anyone else was beaten worse than this, then dudes: Your parents sucked at being parents. It's simple.

Also: You're right, a smack never hurt anyone. Are they needed? Not really. You're an adult. Use your head when it comes to punishing your child.

 

[Owyn_Merrilin]

I'm a parent. And there's really no need to beat a child like this. To those who say 'OH THIS ISN'T SEVERLY BEATING!! THERE'S WORSE OUT THERE!' STFU and get out. Sure, nothing was broken. Sure, she wasn't thrown into anything, etc. She was hit, with a belt, so many times it's not funny. It's a beating, pure and simple. And it's still wrong.

Oh, she was stealing? So what? Ground them, do what that other guy up there said and take away her computer, give her lots of chores. Our eldest caused a lot of trouble, back chatting, fighting with her sister, the rest of it. She's grounded for two weeks, bed at 7pm, has to clean her room every day after school, has to do homework as soon as she's home, etc. She's behaving now, because guess what? It's boring.

You don't need to beat your child. You don't need to hurt them like this.

And if anyone else was beaten worse than this, then dudes: Your parents sucked at being parents. It's simple.

Also: You're right, a smack never hurt anyone. Are they needed? Not really. You're an adult. Use your head when it comes to punishing your child.

What I was saying was not to diminish the severity of the crime. It was not to let the hyperbolic reaction of the internet at large diminish the severity of the far, far more severe crimes that occur on a regular basis. I can almost guarantee you that right now, somewhere in the US a child is being given a beating that makes this one look like a time out. Where is the outrage for that level of child abuse? Why make an example of this one man, when what we really have is a systemic problem, which needs a lot more than one person going to jail seven years after the fact for anything to be done about it? That's the real issue here.

Edit: Also, ironically enough, I am both the guy who said they should have taken away her computer, and the guy who pointed out that there are much, much worse cases of abuse going on. You might want to pay more attention to usernames, or at least avatars.

 

[Caff]

snip

Well I guess I did make it a parenting issue (a lot ) and it was about whether or not a parent should be allowed to hit a child or if there is ever a good reason.

First, no I'm not a parent but I plan on becoming one, at some point.'

Second, for me it also boils down to the fact that you aren't allowed to hit other people (you know the law that the guy that started this is supposed to uphold... at least were I come from)
and as far as I know children are also people.

I did say that the tight holding of an arm or maybe lifting the child up to put it down on a chair is things I would probably do myself, even though it still you enforcing your power on the child (have studied this very little, but still some) which is never such a good thing, at least not without and explanation afterwards, and I myself would have a hard time justifying the fact that I just beat my child, to that child.

But then again if only parents were allowed to say what good parenting is then, only musicians should be allowed to criticize other peoples music.

P.s just read it is apparently legal in Texas.

Secondly, the man was within his rights, according to the Texas child abuse laws, and what he did was not child abuse. The belting caused neither "observable and material impairment" nor "substantial harm" and exposure to substantial harm.

So, if you don't mind, I'd like my soapbox back please.

 

[Owyn_Merrilin]

snip

Well I guess I did make it a parenting issue (a lot ) and it was about whether or not a parent should be allowed to hit a child or if there is ever a good reason.

First, no I'm not a parent but I plan on becoming one, at some point.'

Second, for me it also boils down to the fact that you aren't allowed to hit other people (you know the law that the guy that started this is supposed to uphold... at least were I come from)
and as far as I know children are also people.

I did say that the tight holding of an arm or maybe lifting the child up to put it down on a chair is things I would probably do myself, even though it still you enforcing your power on the child (have studied this very little, but still some) which is never such a good thing, at least not without and explanation afterwards, and I myself would have a hard time justifying the fact that I just beat my child, to that child.

But then again if only parents were allowed to say what good parenting is then, only musicians should be allowed to criticize other peoples music.

P.s just read it is apparently legal in Texas.

Secondly, the man was within his rights, according to the Texas child abuse laws, and what he did was not child abuse. The belting caused neither "observable and material impairment" nor "substantial harm" and exposure to substantial harm.

So, if you don't mind, I'd like my soapbox back please.

That last part is what confused me about the way the court system claimed they believed he was guilty, and he was only getting off on a technicality. As far as I know, none of the physical abuse in this video actually breaks any laws; certainly not in Texas, probably nowhere in the US. What's much more worrying is the emotional abuse that was on display. That may actually be what they would have prosecuted him for, had the statute of limitations not already passed.

 

[ScreamingNinja]

I'm a parent. And there's really no need to beat a child like this. To those who say 'OH THIS ISN'T SEVERLY BEATING!! THERE'S WORSE OUT THERE!' STFU and get out. Sure, nothing was broken. Sure, she wasn't thrown into anything, etc. She was hit, with a belt, so many times it's not funny. It's a beating, pure and simple. And it's still wrong.

Oh, she was stealing? So what? Ground them, do what that other guy up there said and take away her computer, give her lots of chores. Our eldest caused a lot of trouble, back chatting, fighting with her sister, the rest of it. She's grounded for two weeks, bed at 7pm, has to clean her room every day after school, has to do homework as soon as she's home, etc. She's behaving now, because guess what? It's boring.

You don't need to beat your child. You don't need to hurt them like this.

And if anyone else was beaten worse than this, then dudes: Your parents sucked at being parents. It's simple.

Also: You're right, a smack never hurt anyone. Are they needed? Not really. You're an adult. Use your head when it comes to punishing your child.

What I was saying was not to diminish the severity of the crime. It was not to let the hyperbolic reaction of the internet at large diminish the severity of the far, far more severe crimes that occur on a regular basis. I can almost guarantee you that right now, somewhere in the US a child is being given a beating that makes this one look like a time out. Where is the outrage for that level of child abuse? Why make an example of this one man, when what we really have is a systemic problem, which needs a lot more than one person going to jail seven years after the fact for anything to be done about it? That's the real issue here.

Edit: Also, ironically enough, I am both the guy who said they should have taken away her computer, and the guy who pointed out that there are much, much worse cases of abuse going on. You might want to pay more attention to usernames, or at least avatars.

Don't really care too much about who's who, tbh. And no, people ARE up in arms about that level of child abuse, whenever a case gets brought to light. The reason why people are angry about /This/ is because they can see a video of it taking place, and to make matters worse, then man is a judge, who, correct me if I'm wrong, is ment to be a paragon of Law And Justice.

So no, this subhuman deserves what you'd get for assaulting a child reguardless.

And if this is Legal in Texas, well, this makes me sad about the United States.

 

[Aeonknight]

If you've been physically beaten worse by your parents, that sucks. Genuinely. But that doesn't give you the right to downplay how wrong it actually is. This isn't a pissing contest between who's daddy hits them harder.

As for his justification, which do you think looks worse on his appearance? The 16 yr old teenage daughter pirates music? Or the full grown Judge, who probably has a better understanding of legal and illegal compared to most people, performing child abuse?

First off, I wasn't making this into a pissing contest, I was stating that it's not the worst that has been done, although people do have very different levels of tolerance for these things.

Secondly, the man was within his rights, according to the Texas child abuse laws, and what he did was not child abuse. The belting caused neither "observable and material impairment" nor "substantial harm" and exposure to substantial harm.

So, if you don't mind, I'd like my soapbox back please.

Those laws are garbage and both of us know it. They don't take into account psychological damage, which is where the real damage is done.
Even disregarding that fact, this was still considered a pretty extreme overreaction on his part considering her oh so mischievious activities. I'm pretty sure the daughter could make a case for child abuse... if it wasn't 7 years later. The child abuse laws are subject to interpretation, statute of limitations is the only reason he has a legal "bulletproof vest".

That being said, no one likes a judge who hits his kids. Bad PR. His career is more than likely done. The video has enough shock value to warrant a public outcry. But it IS Texas after all...