California Democratic Assemblyman Joaquin Arambula was arrested this week on suspicion of child cruelty, and he confessed he spanked his daughter on Sunday night after her school reported she had been injured.
“It wasn’t the best night for all of us, and as a parent, I think most of us have felt those times when we can feel a bit overwhelmed,” Arambula said, according to the Fresno Bee. “My daughter — in the midst of [her] acting out, I disciplined her as a consequence to something she did.”
Arambula’s arrest came after Dailey Elementary Charter School reported that there was a child who had been injured. Although Arambula said he didn’t see any injuries after his daughter was spanked, he believes his daughter told of the incident at school on Monday to her teacher, who then reported the incident to the school.
After the arrest, all of Arambula’s three daughters stayed with his parents until Wednesday after Child Protective Services determined the girls could return to Arambula’s home. Arambula has not been charged, and Fresno police are still investigating the incident.
“That’s all that happened,” Arambula said. “It was us disciplining — normal discipline to our child.”
Arambula expressed gratitude for those involved in the process, including his daughter’s teacher, the Fresno police, and Child Protective Services for “doing their jobs.” Child Protective Services recommended the family receive counseling, and it will be following up on the children in 30 days.
“There’s a process to be played out, and this process played out, and they determined that the kids should go back home,” Arambula said. “I’m excited about that. But we have a job and a responsibility to continue to be good parents, and that’s what I want to work on and will strive to do.”
