Texas judge being investigated for beating video

PORTLAND, Texas - After being flooded with calls, faxes and emails calling for action, a Texas judicial panel is investigating an internet video that shows a judge beating his teenage daughter with a belt.

The State Commission on Judicial Conduct says in a statement released Thursday that it has "commenced an investigation into the incident."

The statement does not name Aransas County Court-at-Law Judge William Adams, but it does reference "a YouTube video purporting to depict a Texas judge engaging in the act of striking his teenage daughter with a belt."

The 13-member panel comprises judges, lawyers and regular citizens. After a formal proceeding and hearing, it has the authority to censure a judge or recommend to the Texas Supreme Court that the judge be suspended or removed.

The judge's daughter, Hillary Adams says that until last week, only a couple of close friends knew about the savage beating she received seven years ago from her father, who handles child abuse cases.

Now the beating is on display to the world on YouTube thanks to a secret video she made, and her father is also the subject of a police investigation.

Dad seen on tape beating daughter: I was right
Texas judge beating video causing outrage

Hillary Adams, daughter of Aransas County Court-at-Law Judge William Adams, walks outside her mother's home in Portland, Texas Wednesday, Nov. 2, 2011.

/ AP Photo/Chris Sherman

Hillary Adams, 23, says the outpouring of support and encouragement she's received since posting the 2004 video online last week is tempered by the sadness that it's her father lashing her 17 times with a belt and threatening to beat her "into submission." The 8-minute video had been watched nearly 2 million times by Thursday morning.

"I'm experiencing some regret because I just pulled the covers off my own father's misbehavior after so many people thought he was such a good person. ... But so many people are also telling me I did the right thing," she told The Associated Press outside her mother's home in the Gulf Coast town of Portland, near Corpus Christi.

"He's supposed to be a judge who exercises fit judgment," she said.

And she said the videoed attack was not a one-off. "It did happen regularly for a period of time," she told NBC's "Today" show on Thursday.

In the same interview, Hallie Adams blamed her ex-husband's bouts of violence on his "addiction," calling it a "family secret." She did not elaborate. Their 22-year marriage ended in 2007.

The judge did not return an AP reporter's call seeking comment early Thursday.

Police in Rockport, where the 51-year-old judge lives, opened an investigation Wednesday after receiving calls from several concerned citizens, Police Chief Tim Jayroe said.

William Adams has been receiving threatening phone calls and faxes at the courthouse since the video went online, Aransas County Sheriff Bill Mills said.

No one answered the door Wednesday at the judge's home, repeated calls to his office rang unanswered and his attorney, William Dudley, did not respond to phone messages seeking comment. A neighbor said she saw Adams and his girlfriend packing luggage, a briefcase and rifles into their truck.

Corpus Christi television station KZTV caught up with the judge while he was getting into his vehicle Wednesday, and he confirmed it was him in the video. But he said it "looks worse than it is" and that he doesn't expect to be disciplined.

"In my mind, I haven't done anything wrong other than discipline my child after she was caught stealing," Adams said. "And I did lose my temper, but I've since apologized."

When told of her father's comments, Hillary Adams said, "it's a shining perfect example of his personality and he believes he can do no wrong. ... He will cover up rather than admit to what he did and try to come clean."

She stressed that she did not post the video as revenge and does not want her father punished. Rather, she did it because she thinks it will force him to seek help, and because he has been harassing her and she thought posting the clip would make that stop.

"We need to reach out to victims and the abusers themselves to get people to realize what it actually is," she said.

Hillary, who was 16 at the time, said she secretly videotaped the beating in her bedroom because she "knew something was about to happen." She says her parents were angry at her for using her computer to download pirated content over the Internet.

In the clip's opening seconds, William Adams is heard telling Hillary's mother, "Go get the belt. The big one. I'm going to spank her now." With belt in hand, he turns off the light and tries forcing his daughter to bend over the bed to be beaten, but she refuses.

"Lay down or I'll spank you in your (expletive) face," Adams screams while he lashes her with sweeping blows across the legs, ignoring her wails and pleas for him to stop.

A few minutes into the video, Hillary's mother barks at her to "turn over like a 16-year-old and take it! Like a grown woman!" For about a minute, the ordeal appears to have ended after both parents leave the room and shut the door. But the judge then storms back into the room and the beating resumes.

Hallie Adams said she was "completely brainwashed and controlled" by her ex-husband.

"I did every single thing that he did," she told NBC. Hillary Adams said she is not angry at her mother.

Child advocates roundly condemned the beating as abuse. But investigators may decide that the judge's actions, while shocking, weren't criminal.

The lines between what's deemed child abuse and what's considered an acceptable level of discipline differ across the country and among various social groups, though the use of objects such as belts and sticks is usually seen as beyond any normal physical punishment, said David Finkelhor, a University of New Hampshire sociology professor who heads the school's Crimes against Children Research Center.

Adams, Aransas County's top judge, was elected in 2001 and has dealt with at least 349 family law cases in the past year alone, nearly 50 of which involved state caseworkers seeking determine whether parents were fit to raise their children.

Patrick Crimmins, a spokesman for the state Department of Family and Protective Services, said in an email that the agency is aware of the video and "will take the appropriate steps in this matter." He said the agency would have no further comment.

[PDeverit]

We often hear from those who fight to uphold this practice for those under the age of 18 (even to the blaming of the social maladies of the day on a supposed "lack" of it), but we rarely, if ever, find advocates for the return of corporal punishment to the general adult community, college campuses, inmate population, or military. Why is that?

Ask ten unyielding proponents of child/adolescent/teenage-only "spanking" about the "right" way to do it, and what would be abusive, indecent, or obscene, and you will get ten different answers.

These proponents should consider making their own video-recording of the "right way" to do it.

Visit Unlimited Justice or Parents and Teachers Against Violence in Education to learn more and add your voice.

[Patriotdad]

A portion of a transcript where Judge Adams turns a child over to a Homicidal, hallucinating babysitter.

http://thepatriotdad.wordpress.com/2011/11/04/judge-adams-homicidal-hullucinating-psychotic-babysitter-is-ok/

[nfrog3]

I went through abuse like this for years, my mother standing by and doing nothing. While all her boyfriends rape, beat and emotionally destroyed me. It is so hard to watch this video and wish I could be there to stop that p.o.s. To think he was ever allowed to be a judge.
I understand that yes as kids we have all made mistakes and yes we should be disciplined. However, there is a big difference between discipline and teaching as opposed to abuse. You would never do that to someone that you truly love. That man is filling with hate and is nothing more than a man that deserves the deepest parts of hell. I will never understand this as I am still trying to recover from my past. It is crazy that this happens to children everyday and nothing is done about it. Parents that do this belong is jail for life.

[ec051]

Pysona and Theonjrsathome,

For your edification:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Corporal_punishment

Please inform yourselves before making wild erroneous claims, and please don't mislabel your opinions as fact...it does nothing to further the discussion. I am not saying what he did was right (quite frankly it disgusts me), but the discussion should be focused more on whether there SHOULD be laws restricting or abolishing corporal punishment, or whether or not this man has done more damage to the relationship with his daughter than good. Not whether this is considered abuse. In all honesty I didn't see him hit her in the head, chest, back, bottoms of the feet, etc...it was on the buttocks and the legs. There is some credence to the fact that he hit her hand and used some pretty abusive language...but again...not against the law. Listen, I agree that this guy clearly has issues and should get help, he was skating a very thin line and let his anger get out of control...which often has disastrous consequences...for everyone involved.

I also think his job should not be called into question, as the realm of responsibility of a judge is to interpret the laws...not to write them. Besides, his decisions could always be overturned if they were deemed unjust or unconstitutional and he would then be removed from office.

I seriously doubt anything will happen to this guy, and he seems like the kind of person to avoid acknowledging he has a problem at all costs...he may even be delusional.

Your thoughts?

[Mommaritter]

Stop for a second and think...... have YOU...EVER done ANYTHING that you shouldn't have done? Aren't you glad theres no video?

I didn't see the video and won't be watching it. Here are my thoughts....First there is a difference in "spanking" on the butt, which is legal in the US and "beating" anyone up, which is illegal in every State. That being said, children and teenagers are wayyyyy out of control in this country. Parents are working and sending them to school, lessons of all kinds, friends houses unsupervised by their working parents and what ever kinds of places they can go to leave the raising to someone else. We live in a small town between two prisons. What do you think will happen to any young person who gets away with stealing and disobeying those in authority? They end up here, locked up. Maybe you need to watch a video of what happens to her in prison. I am a witness that it will be sicker, nastier and totally illegal!! But it will happen whether she likes it or not. She won't. Maybe her dad and mom were afraid she would end up here.

Then add in that she didn't show the video to police or even a friend when it happened. The mom didn't either until dad got a girlfriend. I agree with those who say this is a little stinker move on her part. Also it happened 7 years ago!! Have you changed in 7 years? Hopefully so, we all should.

This has no political boundries. What a silly thing to say.

I am old school and believe we can all learn from each others mistakes and accomplishments. We should all do that more in our country. I think they are all three, dad, mom and daughter guilty of not loving and respecting each other enough to not let this kind of thing happen in their family. Shame on them all.

[theonejrsathome]

In the first place, it was downloading music on an illegal site. Her father try,s to make it sound like she was a thief. Secondly, the Family Court took a look at the video and will not allow any more interaction with Judge Adams. They have requested and been granted that Judge Adams will no longer hear any Family law cases, or cases dealing with Domestic Violence. They are bringing in another Judge for those cases!

You said you wouldn't watch the video, so by you not having seen it, how can you post a comment or make any sort of judgment?

[ec051]

One word people...L-E-G-A-L.

I am surprised that with all of the discussion on this blog, no one has bothered to point out the fact that what happened here is legal. Not only is it legal, it is legal to use corporal punishment in a domestic setting in all 50 states in the United States. The areas that were hit were areas that are frequently targeted because they heal fast and do not cause any damage to any vital part of the body. AND YES, it is LEGAL to also use a device to administer corporal punishment such as a belt or paddle. I know to some it seems archaic to use such a method of enforcement in the home, but remember people...if you have a differing viewpoint than what is acceptable by law, start a protest, sign a petition, write your congressperson DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT...screaming about it on a blog will not change anything.

On a personal note:
1. I have been spanked/whipped as a child...and as an adult I see nothing wrong with it and feel it is an integral part of properly disciplining a child.
2. I do spank my own children when the situation calls for it.
3. However, I do feel in my heart that this punishment was WAY TOO MUCH and seemed to hint at something more sinister than helping or teaching his daughter a lesson and is something I would NEVER agree with or do...the people who say that this man needs help are right!

[pysona]

Please please please read or watch Dr. Gabor Mate. He tells exactly what becomes of children are abused. Yes, hitting anyone, especially one who is four to five times smaller than yourself, is abuse. This law was changed in 2005 in Texas. Not only is fine to hit your children, it is acceptable for ANYONE to hit your children, a neighbor, a boyfriend living in the house, just anyone. I know for a fact when someone is punished without benefit of response they become angry and abusive when they are adults. This creates stress that never leaves that child. Abortion should be legal. It is necessary to prevent people who hit children from having them.

[theonejrsathome]

I have news for you. This is not LEGAL in any state. It is Child Abuse! The only reason there is no punishment for him is he's a "Good Ol Boy", and part of the system! Typical Texas! The one good thing is that he's been barred from hearing any Family Court cases in the future.

[jberta1]

I am completely and utterly disturbed by this video and the actions of this judge. This was a beating, not a spanking as the judship himself put it. A judge that works on child abuse cases? God will be his final judge and jury. I hope that the state of Texas does the right thing. This was excessive!

[rank_n_file]

The father's tremendous disdain for computers has an interesting irony to it, since it was the computer that 'empowered' the daughter and enabled her to video-record the incident to expose the father as the malevolent hypocrite he really is. It's called "Poetic Justice." He resented the fact she was empowered by that computer.

[Truth_Tracker]

One thing is clear - If this is "tough love" - there is no "Love" in it. It is utterly devoid of Compassion - a Compassion that informs most civilized people that violent behavior is inhumane and abusive. What 6OnionRings has missed is the fact that this kind of abuse is precisely what perpetrated the Columbine massacre. Violence begets violence. Civilized people understand this. The rest do not. And we live in a violent World because there are so many uncivilized people in it.

[tsigili]

I know one thing......a 16 year old child, is like the most violent opposition to a parent, imaginable. To say that the girl didn't deserve her treatment, is passing judgment unfairly. For instance, th video is over her illegally downloading music......6 yrs. ago, when the music industry was suing for hundreds of thousands of dollars, all those they could catch, doing illegal downloading.

How would you like your 16 yr. old, putting you liable for hundreds of thousands of dollars, by doing something she was TOLD was illegal????

Wake up people.....kids can cause you tons of grief, if you don't keep them under control. I have seen kids, I absolutely would ask the courts to take, if I were their parent......and you have to! The videos showing their bad behaviors, are all over YouTube, and MANY of them, involve teen girls!

[bceugene]

tsigili you may think that beating disabled children is ok, but the rest of us aren't psychopaths like you