# Aransas Cty (TX) judge beats daughter for downloading from the Internet (2004 incident) **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [November 2, 2011, 1:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aransas-cty-tx-judge-beats-daughter-for-downloading-from-the-internet-2004-incident/601577 "2011-11-02T01:41:20Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spectre_of_pithecanthropus/32/12343_2.png) [@Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spectre_of_Pithecanthropus)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2011, 5:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aransas-cty-tx-judge-beats-daughter-for-downloading-from-the-internet-2004-incident/601577/21 "2011-11-02T05:59:26Z")
FTR this clip was made in [2004](http://gawker.com/5855478/reddit-video-apparently-shows-texas-family-judge-beating-disabled-daughter) but apparently wasn’t uploaded until last week. ---
**Author:** ![Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spectre_of_pithecanthropus/32/12343_2.png) [@Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spectre_of_Pithecanthropus)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2011, 6:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aransas-cty-tx-judge-beats-daughter-for-downloading-from-the-internet-2004-incident/601577/22 "2011-11-02T06:07:47Z")
Moving from MPSIMS to the Pit. Castigate with great dispatch and abandon. ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2011, 6:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aransas-cty-tx-judge-beats-daughter-for-downloading-from-the-internet-2004-incident/601577/23 "2011-11-02T06:21:31Z")
> [@L. G. Butts](#): > > The guys a piece of crap IMHO, no child, no person, should be treated that way. > > As far as the girl goes, I applaud her courage, but I worry that nothing good will come of her posting this. It is obvious to me that this guy has no problem going after her and would be happy to have her prosecuted under wiretapping laws. Anyone know what those are in Texas? And how they might be affected by a statute of Limitations? ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2011, 6:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aransas-cty-tx-judge-beats-daughter-for-downloading-from-the-internet-2004-incident/601577/24 "2011-11-02T06:25:24Z")
> [@Boyo\_Jim](#): > > If he runs again, I predict he will be re-elected in a landslide. He will not face any criminal charges for beating his daughter (also, I wonder what the statute of limitation is for assault or battery or child abuse). There will be some pro forma investigation by whatever child welfare system Texas has, and nothing will be done by them either. > > The net result will be that he destroys her video camera and then beats her again. She’s legally an adult now. She could get him on battery charges. Also, one hopes that she no longer lives under his roof. ETA: maybe RIAA is coming after him for the downloads, and this is his “defense”… :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2011, 6:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aransas-cty-tx-judge-beats-daughter-for-downloading-from-the-internet-2004-incident/601577/25 "2011-11-02T06:31:49Z")
It’s 6 or 7 years old – there’s a good chance he no longer has any criminal liability. But otherwise you’re right – somehow I forgot that the passage of time would allow her to grow and get out. ---
**Author:** ![Two\_Many\_Cats](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8dc957/32.png) [@Two\_Many\_Cats](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Two_Many_Cats)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2011, 7:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aransas-cty-tx-judge-beats-daughter-for-downloading-from-the-internet-2004-incident/601577/26 "2011-11-02T07:04:31Z")
Apparently this was posted by the daughter, who hopes it will stop his re-election, according to the note by the poster. Here’s hoping that works, but at least people all over the world will see what a no good bum this guy is. ---
**Author:** ![ComeToTheDarkSideWeHaveCookies](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e9bcb4/32.png) [@ComeToTheDarkSideWeHaveCookies](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ComeToTheDarkSideWeHaveCookies)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2011, 7:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aransas-cty-tx-judge-beats-daughter-for-downloading-from-the-internet-2004-incident/601577/27 "2011-11-02T07:50:46Z")
Disturbing to say the least. If it can be confirmed/corroborated/proven, I hope it completely ruins his life. ---
**Author:** ![Moe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/moe/32/2972_2.png) [@Moe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moe)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2011, 11:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aransas-cty-tx-judge-beats-daughter-for-downloading-from-the-internet-2004-incident/601577/28 "2011-11-02T11:08:06Z")
[reddit thread](http://www.reddit.com/comments/lwurz). A little ways down the thread the (presumably) daughter posts: > [@](#): > > You guys are amazing. I’m so glad someone believes me, after all these years… I’ve been crying ever since the video gained ground. -Hillary . Also linked there is [This cached thread](http://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?sclient=psy-ab&hl=en&biw=1280&bih=825&source=hp&q=cache%3Ahttp%3A%2F%2Fwww.scam.com%2Fshowthread.php%3Ft%3D134231&pbx=1&oq=cache%3Ahttp%3A%2F%2Fwww.scam.com%2Fshowthread.php%3Ft%3D134231&aq=f&aqi=&aql=1&gs_sm=e&gs_upl=18849l21490l0l21774l6l5l0l0l0l2l280l857l0.4.1l5l0) where the OP accuses the judge of corruption and the judge and others involved in the case also respond. ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2011, 11:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aransas-cty-tx-judge-beats-daughter-for-downloading-from-the-internet-2004-incident/601577/29 "2011-11-02T11:10:35Z")
> [@Captain\_Amazing](#): > > Well, reading between the lines of her description, “for using the internet to acquire music and games that were unavailable for legal purchase at the time”, she was illegally downloading music and games, it sounds like. “Not available for legal purchase” means abandonware. Yes, it’s technically piracy, but it’s generally hard to prove damages in these sorts of things. Heck, so many abandonware sites exist, it’s hilarious. And you can find any song you want on YouTube. I’m still certain that Nintendo created their Virtual Console primarily so they could prove damages against people using ROMs and only secondarily to make money off of retro game enthusiasts. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2011, 2:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aransas-cty-tx-judge-beats-daughter-for-downloading-from-the-internet-2004-incident/601577/30 "2011-11-02T14:07:30Z")
I doubt that, since there is a pretty limited selection of Virtual Console games, and the ones that are there don’t correspond to the ones widely available for emulation. > [@kaylasdad99](#): > > She’s legally an adult now. She could get him on battery charges. Statute of limitations for civil battery in Texas is two years; for criminal misdemeanor battery it’s three. ---
**Author:** ![Ca3799](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9f8e36/32.png) [@Ca3799](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ca3799)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2011, 3:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aransas-cty-tx-judge-beats-daughter-for-downloading-from-the-internet-2004-incident/601577/31 "2011-11-02T15:03:09Z")
In the video the mom was saying the daughter downloaded something that sounds like “za” or “zaa”. Anyone familiar with that game/program? Seems like a vary sever punishment for such a small crime. ---
**Author:** ![Crowbar\_of\_Irony\_3](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f08c70/32.png) [@Crowbar\_of\_Irony\_3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crowbar_of_Irony_3)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2011, 3:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aransas-cty-tx-judge-beats-daughter-for-downloading-from-the-internet-2004-incident/601577/32 "2011-11-02T15:07:50Z")
> [@Ca3799](#): > > In the video the mom was saying the daughter downloaded something that sounds like “za” or “zaa”. Anyone familiar with that game/program? Seems like a vary sever punishment for such a small crime. Maybe she’s using Kazaa? I remember it as one of those P2P downloader like what emule is nowadays. ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2011, 3:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aransas-cty-tx-judge-beats-daughter-for-downloading-from-the-internet-2004-incident/601577/33 "2011-11-02T15:30:27Z")
> [@kaylasdad99](#): > > She’s legally an adult now. She could get him on battery charges. > [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#): > > Statute of limitations for civil battery in Texas is two years; for criminal misdemeanor battery it’s three. I was referring to the possibility that the judge would beat her up AGAIN. ---
**Author:** ![koeeoaddi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/koeeoaddi/32/408_2.png) [@koeeoaddi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/koeeoaddi)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2011, 3:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aransas-cty-tx-judge-beats-daughter-for-downloading-from-the-internet-2004-incident/601577/34 "2011-11-02T15:36:01Z")
Looks like the [story](http://blogs.houstonpress.com/hairballs/2011/11/texas_judge_william_adams_alle.php) is being [picked up](http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/241931/20111102/judge-william-adams.htm) [far](http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2056582/Family-law-judge-brutally-beats-16-year-old-disabled-daughter-belt-playing-games.html?ito=feeds-newsxml) and [wide](http://boingboing.net/2011/11/02/video-judge-beats-disabled-daughter-for-using-the-internet.html). ---
**Author:** ![elmwood](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/elmwood/32/3060_2.png) [@elmwood](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elmwood)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2011, 3:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aransas-cty-tx-judge-beats-daughter-for-downloading-from-the-internet-2004-incident/601577/35 "2011-11-02T15:41:56Z")
The video made me well up. Disturbing and sad. I’m betting some groups with the words “Family”, “Freedom” and/or “Heritage” in their names will soon be offering their support to the judge for upholding “traditional family values”, and claim this is all a conspiracy of “thuh lib’ruls.” ---
**Author:** ![Darth\_Panda](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ee7513/32.png) [@Darth\_Panda](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darth_Panda)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2011, 3:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aransas-cty-tx-judge-beats-daughter-for-downloading-from-the-internet-2004-incident/601577/36 "2011-11-02T15:56:01Z")
From the Court’s webiste: > [@](#): > > N E W S R E L E A S E > County of Aransas, 301 N. Live Oak, Rockport, Texas 78382 > Aransas County Judge C. H. “Burt” Mills, Jr., 361-790-0100 > FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE > November 2, 2011 > ARANSAS COUNTY, TEXAS - Judge Burt Mills has today announced that Aransas County is aware of the video posted on YouTube regarding County Court-at-Law Judge William Adams, and the matter is now under review by the Police Department. Please refrain from communication with County offices or the Sheriff’s Department on this matter until the review has been completed. Calls, emails, and faxes only create disruptions for other ongoing county business. The public’s cooperation would be most appreciated. [http://www.aransascountytx.gov/courtatlaw/](http://www.aransascountytx.gov/courtatlaw/) ---
**Author:** ![joebuck20](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/74df32/32.png) [@joebuck20](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/joebuck20)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2011, 5:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aransas-cty-tx-judge-beats-daughter-for-downloading-from-the-internet-2004-incident/601577/37 "2011-11-02T17:41:59Z")
Here’s what he’s had to say to a reporter in Texas: > [@](#): > > Judge Adams told us, “It happened years ago.. I apologized.” > > 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.” ---
**Author:** ![AK84](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/85e7bf/32.png) [@AK84](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AK84)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2011, 5:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aransas-cty-tx-judge-beats-daughter-for-downloading-from-the-internet-2004-incident/601577/38 "2011-11-02T17:54:47Z")
I got some really bad thrashings from my parents (and deserved each of them), but nothing like what that sicko visited on her. ---
**Author:** ![miss\_elizabeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/838e76/32.png) [@miss\_elizabeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/miss_elizabeth)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2011, 6:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aransas-cty-tx-judge-beats-daughter-for-downloading-from-the-internet-2004-incident/601577/39 "2011-11-02T18:16:50Z")
I’m sure he’s going to play that off like it was a one time thing (not that it would make it acceptable!), but here’s the thing: if this was a one off, he apologized, etc. How did she know to set up the camera? I suppose it’s possible she suspected this would set him off in a way nothing previously had, and set up a video camera, and got “lucky”, but it’s much more reasonable to assume this happened with regularity. In my teenage years, my mother lost it _once_. I don’t think I really deserved it, but it was a rough time, and I’ve moved past it. I said something that just set her off, and she attacked me. The thing is, I never would have set up a camera, because nothing like that had happened before, or since. ---
**Author:** ![koeeoaddi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/koeeoaddi/32/408_2.png) [@koeeoaddi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/koeeoaddi)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2011, 6:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aransas-cty-tx-judge-beats-daughter-for-downloading-from-the-internet-2004-incident/601577/40 "2011-11-02T18:42:32Z")
> [@miss\_elizabeth](#): > > I’m sure he’s going to play that off like it was a one time thing (not that it would make it acceptable!), but here’s the thing: if this was a one off, he apologized, etc. How did she know to set up the camera? Hillary Adams addresses that [in this article](http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/11/02/disabled-teens-beating-judge-william-adams_n_1071822.html). > [@](#): > > “It had happened before and had been escalating,” Adams told the news station. “I set up a camera, and I caught it.” [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aransas-cty-tx-judge-beats-daughter-for-downloading-from-the-internet-2004-incident/601577.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aransas-cty-tx-judge-beats-daughter-for-downloading-from-the-internet-2004-incident/601577.md?page=3)