SURPRISE, AZ (CBS5) -
Kristopher Harvey admits he probably went too far in trying to teach his kids a lesson.
"Unfortunately it was some of the things I learned when I was a child, that this is how you teach your children to do things. I realize now that it was the biggest mistake of my life," said Harvey.
Harvey's teenage sons were visiting from California when he learned that they were sneaking alcohol when he wasn't home.
Harvey told CBS 5 News that's when he made his 13- and 14-year-old sons consume three shots each of hard liquor.
"I was trying to teach my children that in drinking irresponsibly, this is what the cause and effect of it is, and this is what it's going to do to you," said Harvey.
But the teaching moment turned into a crime call when a neighbor heard the boys screaming in the pool and called 911.
Harvey is accused of throwing the boys in the pool. But he says they jumped in and were making noise as a result of being intoxicated.
"I've lost my job, I've lost my children, I've now got to come up with $10,000 for an attorney just to fight to keep from having to do 17 to life on two counts," Harvey said.
Harvey's friends insist that the Valley dad is not a bad person.
"Everybody has different forms of teaching children. I think he chose the wrong way. But not out of malice... out of love for his kids," said JoBeth Edwards, the mother of Harvey's girlfriend.
"I don't think I'm a bad guy but I do have some issues with drinking, I'm actually going into AA meetings, and going to see a preacher, or a pastor," added Harvey.
The Valley dad said he wants help for his issues. In the meantime, he's expected to be charged with two counts of child abuse.
Copyright 2012 CBS 5 (Meredith Corporation). All rights reserved.
Police say Kristopher Harvey found out his 13- and 14-year-old sons got into his alcohol last week and forced them to take shots of alcohol as their punishment.
