No Charges For Child-Whipping Judge Caught On YouTube

theodp writes "Federal prosecutors will not charge a Texas judge seen lashing his teenage daughter with a belt on a YouTube video taken seven years ago and posted online last week, closing the door on the possibility of criminal charges in the case. The viral video, uploaded by now 23-year-old Hillary Adams, shows her father, Aransas County Court-at-Law Judge William Adams, whipping her with a belt for downloading music when she was 16 (full video, requires login). 'F*****g computers,' the judge tells his now ex-wife on the video. 'I told you I didn't want one in the god damn house. See all the problems they cause?' Judge Adams issued a statement asserting that his daughter released the tape to retaliate against him for withdrawing his financial support."

Comments

Re:The legal system at it's finest.

[ravenspear]

Actually no, the statute of limitations applies to regular citizens also.

Re:The legal system at it's finest.

[Anonymous Coward]

18 USC 3283 - Sec. 3283. Offenses against children

"No statute of limitations that would otherwise preclude prosecution for an offense involving the sexual or physical abuse, or kidnaping, of a child under the age of 18 years shall preclude such prosecution during the life of the child."

I believe the code is clear in stating that the statute of limitations do NOT apply to child abuse victims.

Source - no registration required

[mayberry42]

http://www.i-am-bored.com/bored_link.cfm?link_id=65285

Re:The legal system at it's finest.

[tomhudson]

Why exactly should federal charges be brought against him? I don't think beating your kid is a federal crime.

Come to Canada. It *is* a federal crime and the law has been upheld by the Supreme Court, just like drunk driving, and you will be charged. You'll have to make bail and promise to come back for your trial, and if you don't your sorry ass will be extradited from the US.

And no, we also do it to Canadians as well - and there is no "religious excuse".

âoeWhatever oneâ(TM)s belief in higher authority, if you live in Canada you are subject to the laws of Canada as interpreted by the courts, in this case the Supreme Court of Canada,â Stevens-Guille said in the ruling. âoeSpare the rod and spoil the child is not the byword of the discipline of children in this country in 2010,â he added.
...
In 2004, the Supreme Court of Canada banned spanking of children under 2 and over 12 and criminalized it at any age with an implement such as the common wooden spoon.

And there is no statute of limitations on child abuse in Canada.

Re:The legal system at it's finest.

[Khyber]

The State Attorney is a lying sack of shit.

http://www.dallascriminaldefenselawyerblog.com/2008/09/statute-of-limitations-texas-l.html

TEN YEARS.

2011-2004 = 7

Someone needs to shoot the SA as well.

Re:hard to watch

[meburke]

Note: She is an adult and recovering from the abuse. However, she was born with ataxic cerebral palsy. I don't know how bad it is, but it may preclude her from many occupations. Apparently she is pretty smart and plays the piano well. Ataxic cerebral palsy usually affects muscular coordination, and the symptoms (poor balance, shakiness, poor coordination) last a lifetime and may get worse in old age.

There is no reason to discuss why she needed her family's support, if she needed her family's support, if it was justified to withdraw the support or anything else because we don't know enough facts, and it's none of our business.

http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Dstripbooks&field-keywords=thinker's+toolbox&x=0&y=0

Re:The legal system at it's finest.

[Khyber]

Your quote is screwed.

"Ten Years- theft of any estate by an executor/administrator. Theft by a public servant of government property, Forgery. Injury to a child, elderly individual, or disabled individual punishable as a felony of the first degree under Section 22.04, Penal Code;"

A child with cerebral palsy that has been terrorized into a state of fear and unable to defend themselves is a felony, according to Penal code 22.01 with the provision of it being a THIRD DEGREE FELONY if conducted against a person described in Section 71.0021(b), 71.003, or 71.005, Family Code (in this case, it's 71.005 that applies - Household member) and also in Section 22.04, which the entirety of the section shall be hereforth linked

http://www.statutes.legis.state.tx.us/docs/pe/htm/pe.22.htm

  ""Disabled individual" means a person older than 14 years of age who by reason of age or physical or mental disease, defect, or injury is substantially unable to protect himself from harm or to provide food, shelter, or medical care for himself."

By reason of age - 16 years old is not old enough to reasonably live on your own, especially with cerebral palsy, which happens to fall under physical disease.

Hi, I can read in-depth and reference multiple law requirements at the same time thanks to tabbed browsing. SOL has very clearly not expired due to these conditions.