Judge William Adams beats daughter for using the internet

[bigjelmapro]

This has come to my attention just today, and I didn't see a thread about it, so I started one around this pretty disturbing youtube video of a judge beating his daughter for downloading illegal software/music to the home computer after being told not to. Apparently the video was uploaded several years after it was taken.

Warning: Does show the judge beating his daughter severely with a belt.

Info for the video:

2004: Aransas County Court-At-Law Judge William Adams took a belt to his own teenage daughter as punishment for using the internet to acquire music and games that were unavailable for legal purchase at the time. She has had ataxic cerebral palsy from birth that led her to a passion for technology, which was strictly forbidden by her father's backwards views. The judge's wife was emotionally abused herself and was severely manipulated into assisting the beating and should not be blamed for any content in this video. The judge's wife has since left the marriage due to the abuse, which continues to this day, and has sincerely apologized and repented for her part and for allowing such a thing, long before this video was even revealed to exist. Judge William Adams is not fit to be anywhere near the law system if he can't even exercise fit judgement as a parent himself. Do not allow this man to ever be re-elected again. His "judgement" is a giant farce. Signed, Hillary Adams, his daughter.

So what's the verdict on what should be done about such actions by a sitting judge?

 

[fuelair]

Flay, rub with salt, slow smoke is kindness to it by me.

 

[Babbylonian]

I can't get what I assume is video from this story but the accompanying blurb contains a quote that deserves attention:

When asked if he thought the conduct in the video was excessive, Judge Adams said, "It's not as bad as it looks on tape."

It just looks terrible when you actually see it. If you just heard about it, you wouldn't give it a second thought.

 

[geni]

So what's the verdict on what should be done about such actions by a sitting judge?

Problem is that a video of questionable quality filmed by an unknown party doesn't have much chance of standing up in court.

That asside I would assume something along the lines of an assult conviction.

 

[kerikiwi]

The wife was also responsible. I don't buy the 'emotionally abused and severely manipulated' excuse.
She may have 'repented' for her part.
If the husband also repents in the future, do we absolve him too?

 

[Nursedan]

Did he commit a crime though?

 

[Babbylonian]

Did he commit a crime though?

It is kind of interesting that the daughter waited 7 years before releasing the video. Maybe (pure speculation) it's because the statute of limitations ran out on assault charges (the best information I can find with a quick googlin' is that it's 5 years in Arkansas), so she can get some revenge on her father without getting him a criminal record or prison time.

 

[Newtons Bit]

It is kind of interesting that the daughter waited 7 years before releasing the video. Maybe (pure speculation) it's because the statute of limitations ran out on assault charges (the best information I can find with a quick googlin' is that it's 5 years in Arkansas), so she can get some revenge on her father without getting him a criminal record or prison time.

Or the fact that she admitted to illegally downloading music and games and wanted to wait for the statute of limitations to expire on that.

 

[Babbylonian]

Or the fact that she admitted to illegally downloading music and games and wanted to wait for the statute of limitations to expire on that.

I don't think that admission would have any value as evidence given its temporal proximity to being threatened with, and then subjected to, a beating. I love being an Internet lawyer*!

*IANAL!

 

[Chungy]

My dad used to beat the crap out of me with a belt. He had these famous words, that I will never forget, that he would recite prior to laying into my ass with the 2" leather instrument of pain;

"This is gonna hurt me, a lot more than it hurts you". ********.

I never once even considered even laying a hand on my daughter.

 

[bluesjnr]

I don't know who is who but I can clearly see an assault and battery taking place.

 

[Foster Zygote]

"Adams is a family law judge, who presides over child abuse cases, The AP reported."

Jesus Christ!

 

[Allecher]

Just pointing out this is not Arkansas, but Aransas county, Texas.

 

[Quad4_72]

I can't get what I assume is video from this story but the accompanying blurb contains a quote that deserves attention:

It just looks terrible when you actually see it. If you just heard about it, you wouldn't give it a second thought.

This is a very good point. How often do you hear people tell stories about how they were beaten with a belt when they were a kid? Many probably much worse then this. My wife said that her grandpa used to make her go out and get a switch and then hit her with it. Hell, I know I had my ass spanked pretty good as a kid.

Now I am not saying that this is acceptable or anything, I am just saying that it happens all the time and agreeing that if you just heard about it, you would not give it a second thought.

 

[Noztradamus]

"Adams is a family law judge, who presides over child abuse cases, The AP reported."
~~~

I don't think that's going to happen any more

 

[The Central Scrutinizer]

This guy is toast, if not legally, then professionally.

 

[Polaris]

I only heard a little bit of this on the radio while coming home from work, and have no desire to listen to any more of it, let alone see it, but does anyone else get the impression he was kind of getting off on this? After all, they (Mr. and Mrs. Judge Skidmark) removed the computer from her room as a punishment and then put it back. I don't know anything about cerebral palsy - is there a doctor in the house who could shed some light on the bearing that would have on the daughter's likelihood of controlling herself? - but I would at least hope the parents would know something about it. If the chances were good that she'd do exactly what she did, it's almost like they set her up to be beaten for "disobedience".

At any rate, nail him to some wood and toss it into the North Sea. See if I lose sleep.

ETA: Watched the whole thing anyway. Listening to the judge was like listening to a 40-year old adolescent. Hearing him use the word "immature" is like hearing Jimmy Swaggart use the term "whoremonger" or "fraud".

 

[mortimer]

I only heard a little bit of this on the radio while coming home from work, and have no desire to listen to any more of it, let alone see it, but does anyone else get the impression he was kind of getting off on this?

Absolutely I got that impression. I hope the daughter has found herself in a good place.

 

[BenBurch]

I don't think that's going to happen any more

I certainly hope not! I've dealt with abuse victims in my volunteer work, and you know, many carry the emotional scars long after the physical ones have faded.

Not, I read where the girl in question is feeling guilt and regret, and if I could, I would tell her that what she did was not bad, and she has a right to have the world hear her story. I just wish more abuse victims would do the same thing.

 

[theprestige]

So what's the verdict on what should be done about such actions by a sitting judge?

I have a two-pronged approach:

1. Let the law decide questions of law. If a suit is brought, let it be tried in court. If the defendant is acquitted, then let the acquittal stand. If a conviction results, then let the convict be sentenced in accordance with the law.

2. Let the community be the community. If the man is seen as behaving shamefully, let him be shamed whenever he ventures out in public. If the community sees fit to shun him, let him be shunned. Wherever his fellow citizens are within the law to cast him out--of their businesses, of their social organizations, of their lives--let them do so if they so desire.