Texas judge beats his daughter, footage on YouTube

[Broomstick]

No. Statue of limitations has run out. Only thing possible is for him to get reassigned to desk duty, but even that may not be possible if he was voted into a specific position (not sure how the exact Texas law deals with that).

The citizens can call for a recall vote.... but I'm sure there are a lot of people in Texas who agree with him that he did no wrong.

[PeZook]

Any sympathy I have for this situation will evaporate if it turns out this girl has been blackmailing him and he finally called her to task. I dont condone abuse like this but it does not justify blackmail especially if it turns out she has been doing it for a while.

Not to go all Internet tough guy here, but I sorta think that blackmail is the least that this guy has coming to him.

Besides, you can say both the daughter and the judge did something wrong and despicable. Why the hell do people treat these things as if there's a limited amount of outrage around, and we must be careful who we assign it to, lest we run out?

If it turns out the daughter was blackmailing her father, she's a criminal all right, but the doesn't make her father any less of a scumbag.

[Thanas]

No. Statue of limitations has run out. Only thing possible is for him to get reassigned to desk duty, but even that may not be possible if he was voted into a specific position (not sure how the exact Texas law deals with that).

The citizens can call for a recall vote.... but I'm sure there are a lot of people in Texas who agree with him that he did no wrong.

Can you recall a judge?

[Broomstick]

Yes, you can recall an elected judge. It's not an easy process, but it can and has been done.

[CaptainChewbacca]

From Judicial Selection.us

Texas judges may be removed in one of four ways:

• The state commission on judicial conduct investigates, and if warranted, prosecutes allegations of misconduct by Texas judges. Upon a commission recommendation of removal or retirement, the supreme court selects a review tribunal from among court of appeals judges to verify the findings and enter a judgment. Judges may appeal decisions of the review tribunal to the supreme court.

• Judges may be removed by the governor on the address of two thirds of the house and senate.

• Judges may be impeached by the house of representatives and removed by two thirds of the senate.

• The supreme court may remove district court judges from office.

So there are several ways this could go down, though the 4th doesn't apply because I don't think he's a district judge. There's a shitstorm of public outcry about this, and I can see them having a vote in Austin to impeach him.

[Flagg]

Pretty fucked up affair but the comments from Youtube effectively demonstrate how disgusting folks can be behind closed doors.

The timing of it being released is rather suspicious though, having something like this sitting on your computer for this amount of time and suddenly releasing it would indicate SOMETHING must have triggered this. Did she recently move out or something ?

TYT had an update that claims she was 'threatening' the father with release of the video and her told her to do it. That sounds like attempted blackmail or SOMETHING more is going on.
Why would she tell him she has a years old video of her beating her and will release it ?

She wants him to get 'help' and for them to go to 'Therapy' ? - Why the sudden need for this now rather than... when it happened or when the mother left him ?

The reporter clip claims she released it cause the dad was gonna take her car away. Frankly, it seems like she kept this video as ammunition to be used against her dad and decided to use it when her dad was gonna take her car away. I would be curious to find out if the car is actually hers or the dads or if she has been getting 'generous' gifts from her father. Any sympathy I have for this situation will evaporate if it turns out this girl has been blackmailing him and he finally called her to task. I dont condone abuse like this but it does not justify blackmail especially if it turns out she has been doing it for a while.

Who cares? This isn't about her, it's about him beating a disabled child. I don't care if she did it because he looked at her the wrong way.

[Losonti Tokash]

Yeah, dude. No legitimate reason why she'd wait to release it, like fear of reprisals against herself or family members still in the house. He still harrasses and threatens Hillary and her mother, and was still trying to use financial aid and the car as a means of control. It's pretty obvious you either haven't been in an abusive situation or aren't familiar enough with anyone who has. Your lack of understanding what it's like for the victims is disgusting.

PS, he didn't actually believe this video existed. The mom only found out about it in April. Even if she was blackmailing him, he deserves a whole lot worse. I feel no sympathy for him.

[PREDATOR490]

Yeah, dude. No legitimate reason why she'd wait to release it, like fear of reprisals against herself or family members still in the house. He still harrasses and threatens Hillary and her mother, and was still trying to use financial aid and the car as a means of control.

The mother left him in 2007 and none of the family still live with him according to the reports. As I said, if she just moved out that would explain the delay in release or if reprisals would occur.

It's pretty obvious you either haven't been in an abusive situation or aren't familiar enough with anyone who has. Your lack of understanding what it's like for the victims is disgusting.

I didnt jump on the bandwagon with "He deserves to get raped in prison". Clearly vigilante punishment is the solution to an abusive situation, right ?

PS, he didn't actually believe this video existed. The mom only found out about it in April. Even if she was blackmailing him, he deserves a whole lot worse. I feel no sympathy for him.

There goes the bandwagon... yeah lets string him up from the nearest lampost, do I show more understanding of an abusive situation now ?
Ironically, the girl is quoted as saying she wants the dad to get help and not be punished but with folks like you on the case... I'm sure she is gonna have her wishes abused even more.

Yes the dad is a scumbag that should get busted for what he has done. That sentiment should be pretty obvious and is prevelant in reactions to have it further repeated with escalating tough guy bullshit.
Regadless, TYT point out this situation seems like more is going on and I speculate could be blackmailing her father.

Does this absolve the fact the father should get busted: No
Does this make me more interested in finding out the particulars of the case rather than go with the knee jerk reaction: Yes

[Prannon]

Texas does elect its judges, along with just about every other position in the state from the municipal, county, and state government level. Even the cabinet, supreme court justices, and various executive positions are elected. It's one of the reasons why the governor has no real power - and why Perry can take very little credit for Texas' strong economic position.

It's a strange attitude. I used to volunteer in an elections office that handled ballets, organized elections, and so forth. I was studying Texas state government in college at the time, and I knew how chaotic the whole system had to be. You would have the most obscure positions being elected, like...the county comptroller or whatever. Only one man would run, and he would win the "election" by default because no one else knew about the position or cared. Sheriffs would be elected, judges were elected...it was chaos! And when I mentioned my attitude about it to the others in the elections office, they responded with something along the lines of, "Elections prevent tyranny! We need more elections!" I took it as people in Texas being so paranoid of government power that they couldn't even trust an elected executive of a city to appoint likeminded people to positions of power and at least keep the system organized and efficient.

How does all this tie in to the judge? As we all know, the only thing you really need to win an election in the United States is a lot of money and charisma and a good name. Intelligent people with educations and sound judgement need not apply.

[Rahvin]

I don't care if the daughter did blackmail him just for money. I don't care if it turns out she's a career criminal and has committed multiple felonies.

It's not about her. If she's done something illegal, she can pay for that separately.

Its about what he did. "But she's a criminal" is neither a legal nor an ethical justification to beat a child, particularly in the manner shown in the video. There's no possible excuse for his behavior.

[Alyrium Denryle]

Pretty fucked up affair but the comments from Youtube effectively demonstrate how disgusting folks can be behind closed doors.

The timing of it being released is rather suspicious though, having something like this sitting on your computer for this amount of time and suddenly releasing it would indicate SOMETHING must have triggered this. Did she recently move out or something ?

TYT had an update that claims she was 'threatening' the father with release of the video and her told her to do it. That sounds like attempted blackmail or SOMETHING more is going on.
Why would she tell him she has a years old video of her beating her and will release it ?

She wants him to get 'help' and for them to go to 'Therapy' ? - Why the sudden need for this now rather than... when it happened or when the mother left him ?

The reporter clip claims she released it cause the dad was gonna take her car away. Frankly, it seems like she kept this video as ammunition to be used against her dad and decided to use it when her dad was gonna take her car away. I would be curious to find out if the car is actually hers or the dads or if she has been getting 'generous' gifts from her father. Any sympathy I have for this situation will evaporate if it turns out this girl has been blackmailing him and he finally called her to task. I dont condone abuse like this but it does not justify blackmail especially if it turns out she has been doing it for a while.

First of all: Go rip our your eyes and thread barbed wire through the empty sockets.

We have a self-serving claim from a guy who gave his disabled daughter 17 lashes in the tradition of age of sail navies, saying that this was only released because he threatened her. But of course, you will take the word of a self-evidently violent abuser.

As for "why now?" any number of reasons. Stockholm Syndrome, not having a point of reference to contrast the abuse, not being able to process and deal with it until now, or, you know... the fact that she has been financially dependent on the piece of shit and he holds a position of power in the local community. But of course, she MUST be a money-grubbing bitch.

[Rahvin]

saying that this was only released because he threatened her...

...But of course, she MUST be a money-grubbing bitch.

Who cares if she is?

The problem with wondering if she was blackmailing or whatever is that the actions depicted in the video constituted severe child abuse, full stop. There are no other considerations relevant to that fact. He struck a minor with a weapon repeatedly. The daughter's prior or subsequent actions are irrelevant to that fact, there is nothing that would make it okay. She can be a "money-grubbing bitch" and it wouldn't make a difference at all, he'd still be a filthy child beater.

[Alyrium Denryle]

saying that this was only released because he threatened her...

...But of course, she MUST be a money-grubbing bitch.

Who cares if she is?

The problem with wondering if she was blackmailing or whatever is that the actions depicted in the video constituted severe child abuse, full stop. There are no other considerations relevant to that fact. He struck a minor with a weapon repeatedly. The daughter's prior or subsequent actions are irrelevant to that fact, there is nothing that would make it okay. She can be a "money-grubbing bitch" and it wouldn't make a difference at all, he'd still be a filthy child beater.

I am aware. But the little shit-grubbing abuse apologist I was responding to is either not aware of this, or did not care.

[SpaceMarine93]

No charges, but the guy did release a disgusting statement.

BLAM that son of a BITCH! WHY THE F*** IS NO ONE PRESSING CHARGES?!

[Rahvin]

BLAM that son of a BITCH! WHY THE F*** IS NO ONE PRESSING CHARGES?!

If you read the article...

Police say a Texas judge who was secretly videotaped beating his teenage daughter seven years ago won't face charges because the statutes of limitations have passed.

Seriously, it's the very first sentence.

[Losonti Tokash]

But the statute of limitations is 10 yearfs from the victim's 18th birthday if it can be proved she was under 17 at the time. Which she was.

[Rahvin]

But the statute of limitations is 10 yearfs from the victim's 18th birthday if it can be proved she was under 17 at the time. Which she was.

Are you sure?

The article specifically states:

Rockport Police Chief Tim Jayroe said Thursday that Aransas County Court-at-Law Judge William Adams likely would have been charged with causing injury to a child and other assault offenses if the five-year statutes of limitations hadn't expired.

Are you using the statute of limitations for the specific crimes committed (assault, injury to a child) in the state of Texas? You're aware that these things vary by state, right?

[madd0ct0r]

maybe that's why she waited. wanted to take him out of authority but not actually jail him.