Calif. Official Taped Whipping Stepson Quits

A powerful California elected official videotaped whipping his stepson with a belt has resigned. Anthony Sanchez, a water district director in southern California, was videotaped by a neighbor as he played catch with his young stepson then viciously whipped the crying boy when the child failed to make a catch, reports the Los Angeles Times. The neighbor can be heard on the tape shouting to Sanchez to stop. "That's enough!" he shouts. "I'm having a problem with you beating him because he can't catch the damn ball." When Sanchez begins to argue, the neighbor adds: "Why don't you come over here and teach me?"

Police arrested Sanchez on suspicion of felony child abuse after the neighbor posted the video online and turned it over to police. Sanchez's lawyer has announced he's resigning the Imperial Valley water agency post immediately, and hopes the charges will be reduced. He acknowledges the video is disturbing. “Obviously, with the circumstances surrounding the criminal investigation, it’s going to be important that he focus his time and energy on the charges he’s facing, and begin to rebuild his life with his family,” his attorney tells the Imperial Valley Press. (More child abuse stories.)