Willis v. State

*179RUCKER, Justice.

This case requires us to examine the balance that must be struck in determining when a parent’s use of physical force as a form of discipline crosses the line into criminal conduct. We conclude the line was not crossed in this instance.

Background and Procedural History

Sophia Willis is a single mother raising her eleven-year-old son, J.J., who has a history of untruthfulness and taking property belonging to others. The events at issue in this case began at an elementary school Friday, February 3, 2006. On that date J.J.’s fifth grade teacher, Ms. McCuen, saw J.J. giving a bag…