Johnstown, PA - Prospective dad and woodwork hobbyist Christopher Ellis, 31, is all about the arts and crafts. He’s especially fond of testing his work on his almost-children, as reported by Johnstown police yesterday afternoon.
Ellis is facing assault and felony child endangerment charges after using a handmade wooden paddle with holes drilled in it to beat his children. Except they’re not quite his children, because he was in the process of trying to adopt them. Outstanding parenting, there.
Ellis’s almost-kids were beaten so badly that they were bleeding at school and unable to sit. Y’know, I think many of us remember being told that we’d be “spanked till you can’t sit down”, but this guy obviously didn’t get the Parental Exaggeration Memo.
All three of the children are under ten years old and have been “returned to foster care”. Great. So not only is Extreme Asshole Ellis accused of beating small children bloody with household woodworking projects, he’s also responsible for further destroying the lives of kids who probably really needed a good parent for a change.
Who wants to bet he was gonna get paid by the state for adopting those kids? I’d love to know where the adoptive mom was, if there is one. I’m all about easy penalty for this crime, like lining up professional wrestlers to beat this guy with decorative wooden shelving. Kudos at least to the school for noticing and protecting the kids.
9:42 am on January 10th, 2008
what a scumbag! I’d like to drill a few holes in his skull with that nice Makita and see if there are actually any brains in there!
9:42 am on January 10th, 2008
According to an affadavit, Ellis used the paddle after learning that the boys had behaved badly on their school bus.
He took the three into his bedroom and told them they would be spanked, the officer said. The youngest boy was the first to be disciplined and was told to pull down his pants, although his underwear was left on.
The boy told police he had been “struck six times and that he screamed. It was dripping down with blood, and my butt burns. It hurt to sit down.â€
The 7-year-old then was paddled, and he told police he was unsure how many times he was struck. He, too, told police that his buttocks were bleeding and burning.
The oldest boy told police that he was paddled after he pulled down his pants and bent over the bed.
“It hurt so bad that I just stopped counting. My butt was cut, and there was bleeding. I couldn’t lay on it. It felt worse than it ever did,†the boy told police.
Wagner said the boys told her the incident was not the first time that Ellis had used the paddle.
9:47 am on January 10th, 2008
Ya know…I’m all for a spanking when it’s deserved (such as when my son set the garbage can in the bathroom on fire, shut the door, and walked away), but the only weapon I need has 5 fingers and is attached to my arm.
9:57 am on January 10th, 2008
I support spankings too – when deserved. Beating a child till they bleed is not a spanking. As to the “it burned” part – well, it is supposed to burn or sting – hence the word spanking. It should never bleed or bruise – that is abuse.
And, were a few more spankings used regularly, we might not have as many crimes. Kids need to show respect to adults, kids need to respect rules, AND mostly kids need to know there are consquences for bad behavior. I would rather spank my kid now when he is wrong. Than not and have to visit him in the pen, because he had never been taught there are consquecnes for doing wrong.
9:58 am on January 10th, 2008
I remember getting spanked with the belt when I was a kid and it hurt like hell, but with a wooden paddel with holes in it. Now that would really suck, what is up with people. My son has gotten in trouble on the bus and I told him not to do it again, because where I live if you mess around on the bus they will kick you off, but I did not hurt him because I remember what I was like on the bus as a kid.
I too think that every so often a kid might need a spank, my 15 year old had been spanked twice in her life, once for messing with the stove, and once for running away from me across a street where she could have been hit by a car. To beat a kid until they can’t sit down is just so fucking wrong.
10:16 am on January 10th, 2008
That is right warrman69 – to the point of not being about to sit down – way over the line. We too had belt whippings – always with all of our clothes on and an occassional switch. I have to say, I was never switched till I bled or couldn’t sit down – the same for the belt.
I will also add – I deserved every single thing I got – we were hellions – also, none of us are in the pen, today. A very important and good fact, I believe.
We learned right from wrong and if you messed up there would be consquences – and our punishments depended on the offense. Sometimes we just lost privleges or grounded, whatever you want to call it. If it was real bad – we got our asses tore up. We were never smacked through the face or hit anywhere but our asses.
Finally, thanks to my parents for teaching me those lessons in life. I’m so very glad not to be a bad person, to have responsibility, and most importantly – not being in the pen.
10:31 am on January 10th, 2008
I used to get the orange hot wheels track … just a section of it… and when schools banned the strap, my mom had a friend bring one home for us…
she actually gave it to xmas for me this yr as a joke…
incidentally, i was a little bugger who deserved every single spank i got! lol
11:03 am on January 10th, 2008
I don’t agree with physical punishment on children, that won’t make them respect the parents, that will only make them fear them because they are stronger, and eventually they will grow, feel strong enoughf to to make a stand and bye bye submissive kid hello trouble teen. As for that piece of shit I would love to get hold of he’s loving crafted tool and beat him up till he had his hemorrhoids coming out of his ears.
11:17 am on January 10th, 2008
Yeah, when I was a kid, I was punished by my step-dad as well. It usually involved being whipped with a belt. I would have to take off my pants and spread my cheeks while he did it. Then, while I had blood streaming from the open welts, I had to endure him taking swigs of Jack Daniels and spitting it on the wounds while he laughed. If I shed one tear, he would shave my head, make me wear girls underwear and parade around the neighborhood with a sign around my neck that said “Nancy boy”.
I am also one of those who deserved it every time as well. It made me the girl…I mean, man…I am today. Besides, it was my fault anyway…I knew that when said “I love you Daddy” it would send him into a rage.
11:20 am on January 10th, 2008
I agree that a spanking can be a good and instructive thing. Many children need to know that parents mean business about rules. It’s better to fear a spanking than go on playing with the stove, running into streets without looking, wandering off in the stores, and so forth. And parents who allow their kids to be disrespectful to others are building up a misery of a future for the child. Even mother animals cuff their babies to warn them not to do things that are dangerous or rude. But this paddle with the holes stuff — that’s sadism.
11:24 am on January 10th, 2008
I am Pro-spanking as well.
Oh wait, we are talking about disciplining children? Oh yeah, them too…
11:27 am on January 10th, 2008
I remember his type of paddles from elementary and high school, the teachers and principles all had them and even bragged about if theirs had holes or not – maybe that is why they outlawed paddling in schools. But there again we didn’t have school shootings back then either.
This gives the foster system a really bad name. And the stupid guy had to go through weeks of classes to even qualify (or I hope he did) and a home study had to be done where they walk around your house and ask you about discipline.
11:42 am on January 10th, 2008
The law in Portugal states that if you touch a hair of your kid and he complains you will be arrested and the kid can take you to court and rip off a large sum of money from you, for future physcological damages! so if you ever in Portugal be generous with the allowence!!
11:46 am on January 10th, 2008
Kathy — you’re making me laugh too much!
11:48 am on January 10th, 2008
Don’t tell my kids. They’ll want to move to Portugal so I’ll quit grabbing them by the ears for being disrespectful.
12:15 pm on January 10th, 2008
That’s just wrong – using your toys agains you. Maybe that’s what happened to the writer/creator of Child’s Play.
12:16 pm on January 10th, 2008
Considering how many people were spanked and did NOT grow up to be a troubled teen, I’m not sure how you can say that. I was spanked as a child…Granted, it was clearly a last resort with my parents, but I grew up to be just fine.
I think it all depends on the child, really. Some are much easier to reason with than others. Perhaps spanking is not necessary for those kids. However, a parent MUST be able to maintain authority, and for that kid who figures out that he can simply walk out when grounded, or no longer heeds being yelled at or having money/privileges restricted, physical punishment must remain an option.
I strongly oppose any law or organisation that cuts a parent’s legs out from under them. Abuse is clear – spanking is not abuse. I blame this mind set for many overindulged kids.
12:35 pm on January 10th, 2008
AMEN! You also have to think about the difference now than when Mom’s were all like June Cleaver. Now most families have to have 2 working parents just to get by and that leaves the kids home alone to get into trouble.
12:38 pm on January 10th, 2008
incidentally, I wonder how all these scumbag, child beating parents would have dealt with a 2 year old who has covered half the house in barf and poo puddles in the last 24 hours…including the people.
12:54 pm on January 10th, 2008
Eewwwww, Ashdavus – do you have one of those at YOUR house? Lucky you!
I wouldn’t say I am particularly ‘for’ or ‘against’ spanking. It depends on the people involved. Some parents feel it’s wrong, and seem to do fine with disciplining their children anyway. Everyone has a different style. As long as they are involved and guiding the child’s behavioral development, I think it’s ok.
We were spanked when we were very little. Only with a hand, and only on our butts, and only for pretty serious transgressions. I can’t remember me or my sibs being spanked past the age of 5 or 6, though, really. I think it was when we were little and had no real self-control and it was harder to ‘reason’ with us. The spanking got the point across that mom and/or dad meant business.
I have kids just turning 4 and 6. The 6-year-old was spanked exactly once, that I can recall. I’ve been able to reason with her since she was about 18 months. Smart as a whip, verbal, and very sensible, that kid. I have a hard time imagining ever needing to raise a hand to her again.
Then there’s the 4-year-old. OMG, that child has been stubborn and headstrong since the day she was born. When I tell her NOT to do something, she looks me in the eye and does it. When I punish her, she says “that’s ok. I’ll have dessert (TV, playtime, whatever) tomorrow.” This one has been spanked probably 3 or 4 times. And I have used the threat of a spanking on many occasions. Know what? Last time I spanked her she looked me in the eye and laughed. I knew it hurt and she was scared — I could see it in her eyes — but she would NOT admit it. She’s a tough nut. I am coming to realize that spanking won’t really work with her. I’m still in search of the disciplinary tactic that will work with her.
She’s smart, and she is far too independent and willful to admit I have control. I’m going to need a Masters’ degree in Child Psychology to get her through her teenage years, I can tell.
Regardless of my rambling, though…..spankings are NEVER ok with a paddle (belt, Hot Wheels (!) track, etc.) in my book. I don’t believe the purpose of a spanking is to hurt the child. It is simply a wake up call. It’s meant to kind of jolt a child into recognizing who’s supposed to be in charge.
Note I said “supposed to be”.
1:15 pm on January 10th, 2008
UH huh…I feel special…..
1:30 pm on January 10th, 2008
Very, very good points, Athena.
1:36 pm on January 10th, 2008
That’s my point exactly. First of all “authority” is a vey nasty word & concept, which when out of control, ends in a few thousand people dead in some sort of interest play by “authority” war.
We yell because our parents yelled at us, starting when we where tiny babies – and cried for mere attention , the adult will produce an abrupt short sound that will make the babies, shit their dippers and activate their survival of the fittest mode for the first time, also they will figure that the big fellow can actually bite and be the enemy.
So that is the beginning of a long war of power and disseverment for the control of the authority between adults and babies! And remember the babies are in a big disadvantaged situation on this war because we have all our vices for what is right and wrong, as for the babies they will have to get used to take a punishment to learn plenty of our concepts for wrong!
A solution “discipline” instead of pain, like a toy, we love it when its new and we can’t get enoughf of it, well this toy does learn to enjoy that attention very fast, but then we slowly want, some time off the excess of attention we give them and they will complain.
Instead of starting the authority game, you complain I complain, ignore them so that they know you don’t take bribes.
And that will be some hard few days where the baby will learn the most valuable lesson of his life, …you can’ always get what you want.
Having learn that, babies, will be more open minded to more humane ways, of learning what life is.
A firm voice should do the trick if they tried to stick the cat in the oven, just don’t panic and show fear for their actions as this might teach them the concept of authoritarian power which is what you should always tried to teach as being bad and very, very wrong.
1:39 pm on January 10th, 2008
That also, is a good point, BUT see, parents who truly spank for discipline reasons only (as it should be) do not view a sick child as a discipline issue. A child that would get a whipping for being sick, is more than likely being abused anyway.
Now, if my kid was of reasonable age and went around pooping in the floor just because he was too sorry to go to the bathroom – I would tear his ass up, and to me, he would deserve every bit of it.
When my son was little – he would say “it was on accident, Mama” or because he was always very, very honest (when he was young) he would admit that “it was on purple, Mama” – yes, purple was what he said when he meat purpose. He knew that “on accident” meant no punishment – but education as to the why not to do it. And he also knew “on purple” meant he was in trouble. He would still tell the truth, which I found wonderful and always tried to point out – that the punishment was not going to be as bad because of his honesty.
2:03 pm on January 10th, 2008
When my son was 4 he would deliberately drop his drawers and poop in the corners. It came to an abrupt halt when I handed him a single square of toilet paper and told him to pick it up. When he tried to refuse I quietly informed him that he would pick it up since it was he who left it there and it was his choice whether he was going to use the tool I provided him with or do it with his bare hand. He was one of those kids who would laugh at you for spanking him. The only thing he seems to understand at 13 is I’m going to send your xbox to grandmas house, I’ll never give you any more money, and you will follow your left ear wherever I lead it so you may apologize for your rudeness.
2:19 pm on January 10th, 2008
2:35 pm on January 10th, 2008
I never thought of it that way!
2:42 pm on January 10th, 2008
I’m not a spanker *at least not on the kids* No seriously I’m not but If the situation warranted it, I would like the right to do so. Common sense says this is not the right to beat your children.
2:50 pm on January 10th, 2008
I agree with you. I think it should be used only if someone’s life and/or physical safety have been placed at risk. As in my bathroom fire example. My son was playing with a candle and some paper in the bathroom and tossed it in the trash, setting the hairspray bottle ablaze. He threw water on it and then just shut the door and pretended like he had no idea what was going on when the smoke alarm went off. My house could have been burned to the ground and people could have been hurt or killed because he was fooling around. In my opinion…warrants the use of a spanking.
3:19 pm on January 10th, 2008
This is an interesting subject. I know a kid who is indulged by his mother. Everyone hates this boy because he is uncontrollable. He does anything that comes into his head and until my father threatened to hit him with a stick, he listened to no one. He’s seven years old.
All it took was a threat. Interesting.
Ruby, my nephew was the most horrible, disobedient, laugh-in-your-face child ever. Now he is a very nice teen-ager. He suddenly just changed. His step-mother did set clear rules and always followed through. So it might be that you have a lovely teen in your future!
3:37 pm on January 10th, 2008
Ok. Put your self in this situation:
I do not know if you like or dislike your current president, but lets say you don’t.
As an adult you feel is your free right to call him ” a fucking retard for his actions” (which I personally think he is)being that in public or in private with friends without expecting any form of physical or psychological retaliation. Right?
If a child will do so to someone he doesn’t like, will be most promptly reprimanded either physically or psychologically depending of how serious and to whom he was referring. And that is the normal correct way by our standards to rectify the problem.
Now imagine that every time you talked about your lovely president, who ever was present would punish you physically or psychologically as that would be the common cenario. How would you fell?
Well this does happen everyday in plenty of places in the world but not in our door step and when it comes to our door step is not our habits and costumes we blame instead we normally go for a few individuals which, hey, they looked normal when they got where they got.
That’s because they are normal, they just flip the coin,the face side is not very fun for as to be.
So if a kid ever say grandma is bitch, before going rampant we should ask him, why are you saying that, go figure he might be right, …that would be a good time to explain to him either she is or she’s not a bitch and keep in mind the kid is a good character reader, but explain to him that is ugly to call her a bitch, and while there teach the kid a bit of french as would be more socially acceptable and chick to say grandma its somehow a debouche person.
3:54 pm on January 10th, 2008
If something of this nature is said in my home, our first reaction is to express that we feel it’s a horrible thing to say about anyone, let alone a family member. We ask what would make the person say such a thing. AND…we also let it be known that while you don’t have to like everyone, we do expect polite actions and words.
4:01 pm on January 10th, 2008
Portuga – Are you raising kids or are you still in the theoretical part of the process? By the way, “debouche” sounds a bit like “debauched,” so I wouldn’t suggest it as an alternative.
4:17 pm on January 10th, 2008
Portuga —
ashdavus —
I agree, that it is good to find out why they feel that way. I agree that you should make clear the behavior that is not acceptable and what the expectations or requirements are. If my son says, granny is a bitch, because he didn’t get his way or she was enforcing rules – then I can promise you, he will get his ass tore up. Yes, he’s 16, and like I told him if he’s 50 and doing something wrong, I’ll tear his ass up then, too. He knows I will. The only difference is at 50 I’ll probably bop him up side the head and say what are you doing?
If my son, were an adult and lets say he was the guy messing with high-school girls. When he got caught, the cops would be keeping me off of him. I would be trying to kick his ass myself — I would be screaming at him… “Its so wrong, I raised you to know better and how could you…..” And, then I would tear into him – not defend him. My son knows that I mean what I say. The last time he was spanked he was 7-8 yrs old. I taught him to listen and respect what I told him from the get go. Once you have it instilled in their heads, spankings are hardly ever needed again – they know there are consquences and choose not to take them. Most of the time – obviously not every child.
And the president analogy in comparison to disciplining children, well, that is just ludicrous. That is further apart than apples and oranges ever thought about being. I can’t believe the comparison of name calling the president to name calling an adult family member.
4:18 pm on January 10th, 2008
Exactly!!! WTH? – Thanks wrybread.
4:21 pm on January 10th, 2008
Hahahahahaha, Ashdavus that is highlarious lol. I like the whole “corners” part lmao. The kid has a plan
4:24 pm on January 10th, 2008
Theory! And to be honest if I hit the jackpot and do one half of what I was I’m goin to go mad in a flash! debauched has the same meanig is just a bit more british and less french.
4:37 pm on January 10th, 2008
I got the belt as a kid and occasionally a switch. By dad only. The last time he hit me I was about 16 and he punched me dead in the chest and knocked me across the room. I think it scared him.
I spanked (with hand) my kiddos a few times for serious transgressions. I used a belt, one swat, on my son once when he was practicing Mortal Combat on his little sister. I feel bad to this day. They are older now and loosing privileges is much more effective.
Besides, the last time I threatened to spank my daughter (she’s
she yelled at me…”It’s illegal and you will go to jail”.
Spanking is not a good idea
4:40 pm on January 10th, 2008
….Hey, who stole my 8 and replaced it with some cool smilie?….
Kathy????
4:45 pm on January 10th, 2008
That whore couch is trying to FRAME me!
4:51 pm on January 10th, 2008
I also remember these paddles from school. It was only used on me once, but the whole class got it that day because no one would fess up to whatever we were in trouble for. Can you imagine that happening today? dont think so!!!
I do agree with spanking but only with your hand. Leaving any kind of mark/bruise/welts/blood would be abuse. If you are spanking your kids you have to remember not to be mad when you do it. If you spank a child while angry you are going to abuse them. (Which it sounds like this guy was angry and is always angry)
If my child called grandma a bitch, I would first ask “why?” How often do we get mad at parents that did not see that family member/ boyfriend/stepdad was abusing the child? If my child came to me and said that I would first want to know why and then if it was “She gave me “time-out” for strangling the cat” then I would of course punish for the words and the cat strangling.
4:59 pm on January 10th, 2008
See that is exactly why I would have tore her little butt up. She is being the adult. She threatened you, got by with it, and evidently didn’t get a spanking.
I would have handed her the phone and told her to start dialing. I have no problem with telling any DFS agency I spanked my kid. Be happy to disguss it with them. Spanking is not abuse. Losing privileges means nothing to my son. He knows eventually they will be restored. And when I was growing up, I would have given up a playstation to get by with some things I wasn’t allowed to do. I would have considered the “fun” to out weigh the loss of a privilege.
When I drove a school bus – I had a mean little boy, lovable but mean as a snake. His parents did not believe in spanking. One day we had a real bad day – he endangered himself and by me having to go after him, he endangered the other students. When I ran him down, I told him to go back to the bus – he refused. I told him if he didn’t start walking I would spank him every step of the way back. He replied, we don’t get spankings. I replied well today will be your first and I will give your mom lessons. He started walking. He told his mom as soon as she got there to pick him up. I told her that yes I had said that and had meant every word of it. She said, you were really gonna spank him? I said yes, I certainly was. She did look at me funny, then she thanked me for caring about her child’s well being and the other kids, too.
She said XXX is so out of hand I am just beside myself. I told her try wearing his butt out once in a while and he might listen. The lady and I still talk today. She knew I was not gonna be abusing her kid – she knew I wanted him to be safe and behave like a young man should. I don’t know if she ever started spanking herself, but she has told me then and years later – that she would have supported my decision. I don’t think she had the heart.
I figure a good spanking when needed is much better than visiting your kids in the pen because they are not used to having consquences for bad behavior.
5:00 pm on January 10th, 2008
The main problem is that kids are a reflecting mirror of the environments’ they grow and pass by, they absorbe everything they see and hear, they will make there own conclusions about a lot of matters, especially if they believe it to be crucial to get what they want and worst they will learn how to manipulate the parents if the parents try to manipulate them. Home is like a country where the parents are the rulers and they are the opposition and when you first pick a fight with them, with the first oppressive shush, you give them, you are up for a long fight, at least 18 years.
With the uncertainty of who they really are as you will never allowed to express full feelings being those the good and the bad.
As been said above they can become the molestor in the school that we wouldn’t know.
Best way is avoid a oppressive I’m bigger and I am the boss that’s why I can kick your ass style, and go for the equal respect no nonsense approach, could grandma be a bitch, I’m pretty sure that is the reality for many kids,extreme but true.
No point in oppressing that behind family values. Not true hear the kids point of view and work it with pacience. Not a smack, otherwise that word will be kept stored in a corner of the brain waiting to be used in a near future!
6:33 pm on January 10th, 2008
After she said that I told her that if I went to jail she would have to live in a foster home. Then I chased her to her room. Usually “the look” will straighten them right up. I am very lucky to have good kids and I never fail to follow-up on my threats. Actually my kids are scared to death of me when I am pissed.
I am so proud
8:42 pm on January 10th, 2008
<blockquote. debauched has the same meanig is just a bit more british and less french.
de•bauch (d -bôch )
v. de•bauched, de•bauch•ing, de•bauch•es
v.tr.
1.
a. To corrupt morally.
b. To lead away from excellence or virtue.
2. To reduce the value, quality, or excellence of; debase. See Synonyms at corrupt.
3. Archaic To cause to forsake allegiance.
v.intr.
To indulge in dissipation.
n.
1. The act or a period of debauchery.
2. An orgy.
So it’s okay by you, Portuga, to call Grandma an insulting name if it’s in a language that she doesn’t understand?
10:28 pm on January 10th, 2008
I know examples where grandmas are real debauches. Evil old tarts,
that shouldn’t be alowed ever to procreate in the first place, and someone makes the mistake to allows them to approach a second generation (not that rare) And most families especially the god church obeying type will do anything to preserve the appearances of family values, even when knowing that the kid was being honest and saying what he felt.
So yes I go for calling a bitch a bitch or a debouche!
5:06 am on January 13th, 2008
Just wanted to add, I was pinched with a dreadful twist. It was very painful.
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