California. - At least according to the argument of lawyers of Anthony Sanchez, who was charged with child abuse, when a neighbor caught the 34 year-old whipping his 10 year old stepson son with his belt while teaching him how to play ball.
On Tuesday, Anthony's lawyer Ryan Childers told Good Morning America, ""This was discipline as a result of behavior during a game of catch, and that's all it was...It's not illegal to spank a child, and it's not illegal to do it with something other than your hand."
Sanchez made his first appearance since he turned himself in to police in June. Sanchez pleads not guilty to charges of child-abuse; he's been released on bail.
The neighbor, Oscar Lopez, apparently videotaped the incident and posted it on YouTube. The video created a sensation and sparked an outrage which ultimately led for Sanchez to be arrested and charged with a crime felony of child abuse.
In the video, Sanchez is seen whipping his stepson after the 10-year-old failed to catch the ball. Throughout the video, a verbal exchange between cameraman Lopez and the alleged child abuser can be heard. Lopez is heard shouting out questioning Sanchez's behavior towards the boy; Sanchez is heard responding, "Do you know my son?" according to the video on YouTube.
Sanchez is the elected director of the Imperial Irrigation District; he has stepped down from the position.
The video that started it all can be seen below:
