'You don't spank children today': Judge's stern words for mother who confessed to hitting daughter aged two



A judge in Texas has issued a stern warning to a mother who admitted spanking her two-year-old daughter.

Rosalina Gonzales, who has lost custody of all three of her children, was sentenced to five years of probation at a hearing in Corpus Christi.



Judge Jose Longoria admonished Gonzales for spanking the little girl, and said it was something that belonged 'in the old days'.

Research: A study of more than 35 mothers by Texas experts has provided what is believed to be the first-ever audio collection of real-time spanking data

Gonzales ended up in court after her daughter's paternal grandmother noticed red marks on the girl's bottom and took her to hospital in December.



Prosecutors described it as a 'pretty simple, straightforward spanking case', and said Gonzales didn't use a belt nor leave any bruises.

But Judge Longoria was firm in his criticism of her behaviour, and told her it was unacceptable.

He said: 'You don't spank children today. In the old days, maybe we got spanked, but there was a different quarrel. You don't spank children. You understand?'

She answered: 'Yes sir.'



Gonzales will also has to pay a $50 fine to the Children's Advocacy Center and attend a course of parenting classes.

She has lost custody of her daughter and two other children, all of whom are being looked after by their grandmother.



Gonzales is fighting to get them back through the courts, but the judge told her she cannot have them back until she is deemed capable.

Despite his clear message, Texas law is unclear on the matter.



The state's attorney general declined to comment on whether spanking is officially illegal in the state.

But the office's website states: 'Texas law allows the use of force, but not deadly force, against a child by the child's parent, guardian, or other person who is acting in loco parentis.



'Most parents do, in fact, use corporal punishment at least occasionally, and most do not, in fact, consider it abusive.'



