McMinnville, TN Father found guilty of assaulting his own child!

Father given jail time for spanking-Judge rules Cox went too far in punishing girl
BY DUANE SHERRILL
A judge found a father went too far when he spanked his 16-year-old daughter, which will cost him two days in jail and leave him permanently banned from spanking his daughter.
The defendant, John T. Cox, was found guilty Friday by Special Judge Bratton Cook on the charge of domestic assault following his second hearing in two weeks. His hearing last week before General Sessions Judge Larry Ross ended in a mistrial after Mr. Cox revealed Ross’ wife, Tami Ross, was handling his divorce, prompting the judge to recuse himself due to conflict of interest after hearing almost all the evidence.
Cox was ordered to serve two days of an 11-month, 29-day sentence and attend anger management classes. He was also instructed to abstain from spanking or physically correcting his daughter when he has visitation.
Cox was charged after his daughter reported he had spanked her during a confrontation between the two which was sparked by a disagreement the daughter had with her father’s girlfriend. The teen said she had words with the girlfriend regarding her younger brother’s medication and that her father became angry.
At some point during the altercation, she said her father pulled up her shorts and struck her thigh area over 20 times leaving marks on her leg.
In response, Mr. Cox maintained his daughter brought the charge because she wanted to be returned to the custody of her mother. Mr. Cox said he had limited the contact his daughter had with her boyfriend due to disturbing notes he had intercepted, noting his daughter believed she would get to see her boyfriend more if she were in her mother’s custody.
Mr. Cox also maintained he spanked his daughter’s buttocks only two or three times, suggesting Friday that his daughter or her boyfriend may have manufactured the marks later to make him look guilty of abuse.
Given the conflicting testimony, Judge Cook based his decision to convict the father on the testimony of deputy Corey Knowles, who saw the injuries during the girl’s visit to the emergency room. Knowles testified he believed the marks had been left by significant strikes, more numerous than just two or three.
Mr. Cox may opt to appeal his conviction. A domestic assault conviction means the person has a lifetime ban on owning or possessing a firearm.

This girl had an agenda! She was not getting her way, and did what she needed to do to get what she wanted. The father needs to write this girl off, and let her live the life that she thinks that she wants. One day she will grow up and realize the harm that she has caused, and if she grows up to be any type of a good human being, she will apologize. God help this man though because it is obvious that he has no one on his side. Everyone in this country is wondering why things are going down the tubes, well when parents can't discipline their children the way they see fit, and the government is coming into households and telling parents what they can and can't do their is a problem. Wake up people, if children were disciplined and not given a free ride, We wouldn't be in the shape we are in.

According to DSC in McMinnville a parent is able to spank a child but not repeatly like this father has. The father has embarassed her and that is why she took it so far. Good luck

I am the girls mother in this story. Since the media is leaving out the details of the story I feel it is my duty to make the public aware of the truth in this case. This man is a child abuser, a wife abuser. He has a history of child and spousal abuse, as well as animal abuse.
What you aren't being told by the media is how he left bruises and his hand prints on her thigh for over 8 days before they finally began to fade away! You aren't being told how the police officer went and called the dept. of children's services himself, the school nurse as well. You aren't being told how my daughter couldn't sit due to pain, she was limping, and her pants touching her leg was very painful for her.
You aren't being told that she was sitting in the floor and 'daddy' sat on top of her and hit her at least 20-30 times!
You aren't being told by the media that this father accused said daughter of doing this to herself; that she was 'coming after him'!!
Typical response of an abuser!
I want the world to know, the people to know the truth.
This man was found guilty of DOMESTIC ASSAULT here. Some of you can't get past the word spanking. This word is being used for a knee jerk reaction from the public!
Think before you write such horrible things about my daughter.
She is the innocent victim here and 2 days in jail is nowhere near enough time for this jerk off!

BTW, The good ole DCS in McMinnville lost the photographs they took of her leg with the proof of the bruises and handprints on her leg.(It was 15 hours later when DCS took the photos so it is obvious John did this)

phazed_0ut wrote:

I am the girls mother in this story. Since the media is leaving out the details of the story I feel it is my duty to make the public aware of the truth in this case. This man is a child abuser, a wife abuser. He has a history of child and spousal abuse, as well as animal abuse.
What you aren't being told by the media is how he left bruises and his hand prints on her thigh for over 8 days before they finally began to fade away! You aren't being told how the police officer went and called the dept. of children's services himself, the school nurse as well. You aren't being told how my daughter couldn't sit due to pain, she was limping, and her pants touching her leg was very painful for her.
You aren't being told that she was sitting in the floor and 'daddy' sat on top of her and hit her at least 20-30 times!
You aren't being told by the media that this father accused said daughter of doing this to herself; that she was 'coming after him'!!
Typical response of an abuser!
I want the world to know, the people to know the truth.
This man was found guilty of DOMESTIC ASSAULT here. Some of you can't get past the word spanking. This word is being used for a knee jerk reaction from the public!
Think before you write such horrible things about my daughter.
She is the innocent victim here and 2 days in jail is nowhere near enough time for this jerk off!

I'm so sorry that this is happening to you, I have been in this kind of relationship and I know that it is not easy but remember you need to get out of this relationship it is not heathy at all. You are right the Media only wants to tell you half the story when they should be telling us the whole story. You have a friend here if you ever need to talk and God is on your side. Prayers for you and your family GOD bless.

phazed_0ut wrote:

BTW, The good ole DCS in McMinnville lost the photographs they took of her leg with the proof of the bruises and handprints on her leg.(It was 15 hours later when DCS took the photos so it is obvious John did this)

I'm so sorry you and your family went thru this. My prayers are with your family and other families going thru this. It's painfull how lacking in depth some of these stories are written.

Well this man now has supervised visits only for the next 6 years, the child he assaulted no longer has to ever see him again. mom finally got her divorce from him! woohoo!

Typical Abuser Response. It is always the "evil women" He had no business spanking her ONCE. Ever heard of a time out?

phazed_0ut wrote:

I am the girls mother in this story. Since the media is leaving out the details of the story I feel it is my duty to make the public aware of the truth in this case. This man is a child abuser, a wife abuser. He has a history of child and spousal abuse, as well as animal abuse.
What you aren't being told by the media is how he left bruises and his hand prints on her thigh for over 8 days before they finally began to fade away! You aren't being told how the police officer went and called the dept. of children's services himself, the school nurse as well. You aren't being told how my daughter couldn't sit due to pain, she was limping, and her pants touching her leg was very painful for her.
You aren't being told that she was sitting in the floor and 'daddy' sat on top of her and hit her at least 20-30 times!
You aren't being told by the media that this father accused said daughter of doing this to herself; that she was 'coming after him'!!
Typical response of an abuser!
I want the world to know, the people to know the truth.
This man was found guilty of DOMESTIC ASSAULT here. Some of you can't get past the word spanking. This word is being used for a knee jerk reaction from the public!
Think before you write such horrible things about my daughter.
She is the innocent victim here and 2 days in jail is nowhere near enough time for this jerk off!

Teens do whatever they want to get what they want, but that is beside the point. She was too old to be spanked. If he needed to spank her to control her then he should have had her checked into Lakeside. I know of a teen that was bruised badly on her buttocks recently in this state and the authorities said if it is on the buttocks and no bleeding it it fine! WTF?

shocked wrote:

Teens do whatever they want to get what they want, but that is beside the point. She was too old to be spanked. If he needed to spank her to control her then he should have had her checked into Lakeside. I know of a teen that was bruised badly on her buttocks recently in this state and the authorities said if it is on the buttocks and no bleeding it it fine! WTF?

Do you have teenaged children????? They can be a real pain in the butt and sometimes they need to be put in their place. I don't mean beating, but spanking is ok. That's what is wrong with kids today, carrying guns, talking back and not listening to their parents. They know they can get the parents in trouble and parents are afraid of them.

how horrible this is im sorry

phazed_0ut wrote:

I am the girls mother in this story. Since the media is leaving out the details of the story I feel it is my duty to make the public aware of the truth in this case. This man is a child abuser, a wife abuser. He has a history of child and spousal abuse, as well as animal abuse.
What you aren't being told by the media is how he left bruises and his hand prints on her thigh for over 8 days before they finally began to fade away! You aren't being told how the police officer went and called the dept. of children's services himself, the school nurse as well. You aren't being told how my daughter couldn't sit due to pain, she was limping, and her pants touching her leg was very painful for her.
You aren't being told that she was sitting in the floor and 'daddy' sat on top of her and hit her at least 20-30 times!
You aren't being told by the media that this father accused said daughter of doing this to herself; that she was 'coming after him'!!
Typical response of an abuser!
I want the world to know, the people to know the truth.
This man was found guilty of DOMESTIC ASSAULT here. Some of you can't get past the word spanking. This word is being used for a knee jerk reaction from the public!
Think before you write such horrible things about my daughter.
She is the innocent victim here and 2 days in jail is nowhere near enough time for this jerk off!

If he is such a bad person, why did he have custody of your daughter instead of her being with you at the time that this happened? If he is truly an abusive person, why did you not have custody of her? I realize that the media does not tell the complete story, but I also realize how teenagers can be very manipulative and do whatever they can get away with to get their way. I have been in the same situation with my stepson who had the police waiting on us to pick him up after a weekend visit with his mom. He told the police he was "terrified" of me after I spanked him the previous week. His mother was in 3 drug busts and just gave her kids up to my husband. They concocted this scheme to try to get the upper hand so she could get custody of him back. It didn't work though. This was last year, and she is still trying. I just dread what they come up with next! Whatever the situation, I wish you the best of luck.

justcheckingitout wrote:

<quoted text>
Do you have teenaged children????? They can be a real pain in the butt and sometimes they need to be put in their place. I don't mean beating, but spanking is ok. That's what is wrong with kids today, carrying guns, talking back and not listening to their parents. They know they can get the parents in trouble and parents are afraid of them.

AMEN!!!!!!

phazed_0ut wrote:

BTW, The good ole DCS in McMinnville lost the photographs they took of her leg with the proof of the bruises and handprints on her leg.(It was 15 hours later when DCS took the photos so it is obvious John did this)

you go mama! God bless you and I'll just bet ole' ex-hubby has the $ and out-lawyered you or maybe his mama does and that's why you don't have custody in the first place. The first thing an abuser does is blame the abused. Believe me I know.
Hey by the way, someone very close to me is going up before Judge Ross, and the DA wants to nail her. Would it be a conflict of interest if the judge, Larry baby, has had a baby with the DA (who is of course a woman)
McMinnville by the way should be inialated all together.

I am the daughter. & I think its time you know that I a. Innocent. I'm a grown woman now. 20 years old. Its been 4 years since the assault. You will never because you weren't there. Things this story doesn't say: DCS came to the E.R. & took pictures. We get to court, & they were "lost". My believe- John COX paid dcs to "lose" them. John Cox was in his UNDERWEAR when he raised my shorts, pushed me to the floor, & day on me & hit me numerous times. I was beaten that day no matter what you believe. I don't really care if you believe me or not. But how dare you call me names, & judge me. I am stronger now than I've ever been. & I don't need anyone's judgmental, uneducated response. My "abusive boyfriend" IS NOW MY HUSBAND! We never in a million years would have thought to conflict upon myself. So be it.. Thank you all who prayed for me, who were on my side, who fought for me.

It is hard to have an outside opinion unless you personally know the facts. I can be very bad on both sides and yes bad mothers lie against good fathers and bad fathers lie against good mothers. My husband is one of the best husbands and fathers I have ever known but he had a crazy ex-wife that manipulated the kids accussed him of being abusive and really tried to ruin his reputation. She put the oldest child up to instigating fights with his father and keeping a tally sheet anytime his father had to get on to him. Finally I told him if he didn't want to come see us let him go. He did and finally he came back around on his own. The only thing you can do in a situation like this is to go on and live a good life. That's what we have done and have been blessed. Her life is still full of drama, she is now fighting all the time with her current husband. My husband thanks me all the time for his drama free life. It is sad that kids have to be caught up in the drama of an unstable parent but it happens all the time. But remember time always shows the truth. You can tell a tree by the fruit it bears. Good luck to everyone (especially the children) going through divorce.