Viral Video Leads to Imperial County Official's Resignation

Anthony Sanchez, 34, an Imperial Irrigation District Director, was arrested on felony child abuse charges by deputies Friday

An official in Imperial County has resigned after a neighbor posted a graphic video online showing the man whipping his stepson with a belt.

Oscar Lopez of Heber, Calif. used his phone to record his neighbor Anthony Sanchez on Wednesday morning according to Imperial County Sheriff's Department,

The video clip was posted to YouTube where it has received close to 100,000 views.

Sanchez, 34, an Imperial Irrigation District Director, was arrested on felony child abuse charges by deputies Friday according to a local television station.

On Saturday, he had resigned from his job.

Lopez said Sanchez initially forced the boy to throw a football through a tire and then made the boy play baseball but, according to Lopez, Sanchez was throwing the ball violently, forcing the boy to dodge the ball.

Lopez says he grabbed his cellphone and began filming through the window soon after he heard the commotion outside because something didn't seem right.

In the video, the man appears to be using a belt to strike the child in the legs.

When the whipping began, Lopez wanted Sanchez to know someone was watching - and that's when he yelled “That’s enough” from his window.

"I didn't understand why he was playing with him and disciplining him at the same time. But he just, it didn't stop," said Lopez.

Sanchez turned himself in to authorities on Friday and posted a $100,000 according to the local television station. The case has been handed over to prosecutors to determine the next step. 

“It's important for people to understand that California law recognizes parents right to spank their children, and it's also not illegal under California law for parents to spank their children with something other than their hand, so there's a real fine line there,’’ his attorney, Ryan Childers told NBC News.

In an interview on the Today Show, the boy’s grandfather called the spanking “excessive,” but stood by him.

“They try time-out. They try removing things, but it's documented in his church, it's documented at school…when the spanking discipline has worked. It's helped his behavior,’’ said Terry Grammar.

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