Texas judge beats his daughter

A comment yesterday posted a link to a video, as described here:

2004 video shows Texas Judge beating disabled daughter with belt

A 2004 video that shows a father beating his disabled daughter with a belt has gone viral on the Internet and various news outlets. The recently uploaded clip contains graphic images of physical and emotional abuse and may be disturbing to some viewers.

“Judge William Adams beats daughter for using the Internet” is the latest YouTube video to make the rounds on the Internet, and not for the right reasons.

The video allegedly shows Aransas County Court-At-Law Judge William Adams beating his daughter with a belt. The daughter, Hillary Adams, who suffers from ataxic cerebral palsy, was downloading music and games from the Internet – she has a passion for technology.

When her father discovered this, he became enraged and punished the young girl by viciously hurting her back, bum and legs with a belt. He threatened several times to hit her in the face. About midway through the video, her mother assisted in the beating, but the daughter noted that she does not blame her for what happened because she was also emotionally abused.

NPR has more on this story, and says that the judge is now "the subject of a police investigation," The Associated Press reports.

A reader writes:

The judge should receive an "in kind" treatment in public, as well as a very lengthy prison sentence or possibly even capital punishment for his actions against his daughter. His hypocrisy is monumental and I think it clearly demonstrates the complete failure of the judicial system that would allow such a sadist to be in a position of power over suspected child abuse cases.

If only there could be cameras in all Family Law Courtrooms, there might be incentive for judges and lawyers to follow the rule of law. It might take a ballot proposition, but just the process of trying to get on the ballot should bring about a lot of awareness of the insanity of Family Courts.

Too bad we cannot get videos of this same judge taking someone's kid away because of trivial allegation, or lecturing on how to be a good parent. I would also like to see videos of the child custody evaluators doing their sloppy work.

My impression is that the kind of people who want to be judges and child custody evaluators are bullies who crave forcing others to do their bidding.

I was debating some commenters on another blog, and one

said:

Why is the arbitrariness of 50/50 better than having somebody not emotionally caught up in the dispute applying common sense, using guidelines worked out in advance?

This is like believing that our republican govt should be replaced by some sort of wise and enlightened dictator or monarch who somehow knew what was good for everyone.

The simple answer to the problems of dictatorship is to just visit a country that has one, and seeing how it works for yourself. Likewise, if people saw this Texas judge in action, both in court and at home, no one would want him telling you how to rear your kids.

Update: USA Today says no charges will be filed:

McALLEN, Texas (AP) – A Texas family law judge whose daughter secretly videotaped him savagely beating her seven years ago won't face criminal charges because too much time has elapsed, police said Thursday.

Aransas County Court-at-Law Judge William Adams likely would have been charged with causing injury to a child or other assault-related offenses for the 2004 beating of his then-16-year-old daughter, but the five-year statutes of limitations expired, Rockport Police Chief Tim Jayroe said.

"We believe that there was a criminal offense involved and that there was substantial evidence to indicate that and under normal circumstances … a charge could have been made," Jayroe said. He said the district attorney determined he couldn't bring charges, and that police would discuss the case with federal prosecutors even though he doesn't believe federal charges would apply.

I am surprised that they would say that this is criminal. His real crime is that he is a family court judge.

Update: (Nov. 23) The Texas judge has been suspended with pay.