Statute of limitations kills abuse charges against Texas judge

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Friday November 04, 2011 · 3:10 PM PDT

2011/11/04 · 15:10

A few days ago, Hillary Adams posted a video of her father, Texas judge William Adams, beating her savagely with a belt 20 years earlier. Well, it looks like William Adams won't face justice--at least, not in a Texas court. Seems the statute of limitations has run out.

Aransas County District Attorney Patrick Flanigan said Thursday he would not pursue charges against William Adams because the statute of limitations on charges such as injury to a child expired after five years.
"I would expect that yeah, charges would have been pursued but for the inability to proceed due to the statute of limitations," Flanigan said Friday. "You know, whether that would have been a felony or a misdemeanor charge I can't say but I think there would've been some action pursued."

State officials have talked with federal prosecutors in Corpus Christi to see if there's a way Judge Adams could be brought up on federal charges, though I don't see how that's possible. He's not out of the woods yet, though. The State Commission on Judicial Conduct is looking into the case, and Adams isn't hearing any cases while that investigation is underway. Department of Family and Protective Services are investigating. Normally, DFPS wouldn't get involved, but Judge Adams was recently granted custody of Hillary's younger sister.

In the unlikely event that Adams doesn't face charges from the judicial commission, he won't be up for reelection until 2014. Seems to me the only remedy before then would be impeachment--if that option's available.

Cases like this make me wonder--is it appropriate to have a statute of limitations for child abuse cases? On one hand, the trauma is so great that it can take years for an abused child to come forward--witness the abuse cases involving Catholic priests. But on the other hand, how do you ensure there are enough safeguards to prevent another McMartin case?

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