The Texas judge whose harsh beating of his disabled daughter went viral is defending his actions. "In my mind, I haven't done anything wrong, other than discipline my child after she was caught stealing" said Judge William Adams in an interview for KZTV. "I did lose my temper, but I've since apologized. I really don't want to get into this right now because as you can see my life's been made very difficult over this child." According to Adams, his daughter posted the video just to get back at him for a recent dispute over a car. His family, including his now ex-wife, who took part in the beating, is not so forgiving.
"I am praying for my daughters and me and my family to heal in all ways from emotional and physical abuse," the mom, who apparently divorced Adams because of emotional abuse, wrote on her Facebook page. She also said that she hoped her ex-husband would "finally make amends to all of us, and take the first steps to letting our broken family heal." His daughter said she posted the video to force her father to get help, reports MSNBC. "I'm feeling some regret for publishing the video because to ruin my own father is heavy indeed. But I really want him to seek help," a person identifying herself as Hillary Adams tweeted. "Please spread the word that my father needs professional help and not hatred. We can offer him the tools to be a better person." Local police are investigating the incident. "Obviously, it's very disturbing," said a police spokesman. (More William Adams stories.)