La Canada Flintridge : Father Admits Beating
A local businessman has pleaded guilty to charges that he beat his 17-year-old daughter with a wooden dowel because her grades dropped below a straight-A average, court officials said.
William Hwang, 44, entered the plea to one count of child abuse Jan. 23 after Pasadena Superior Court Judge William Masterson agreed to sentence him to no more than 180 days in jail. If convicted after a trial, Hwang could have faced up to six years in prison.
Under the plea agreement, Hwang must undergo psychological counseling, Deputy Dist. Atty. Amy Suehiro said. The businessman could be sent to prison if he violates the terms of a two-year probation period after his release, the prosecutor said.
Investigators alleged that Hwang severely beat his daughter in May because her report card had a 3.8 grade-point average, instead of the 4.0 or straight-A average he demanded. Authorities said that he was also angry because the girl had missed some classes.
Hwang was arrested after a friend of the girl saw the injuries and called a child-abuse hot line, investigators said.
Formal sentencing was set for Feb. 11.
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