More Families Filing Lawsuits Against JP

Judge says no one was forced to paddle children

LOS FRESNOS - Two more Los Fresnos families are suing a justice of the peace.

Attorney Mark Sossie tells NEWSCHANNEL 5 the parents and children have come forward, claiming Judge Gustavo Garza forced them to either pay a hefty fine or paddle their children.

Garza admitted to our cameras that paddling is a common practice in his court. But he tells us he never forces anyone to do it, and the choice is up to the parents.