Tragic Domestic Violence Screw-Up

[3113]

I know every town and city has their fuck-ups, but this was...horrific, tragic, shameful, and seems mainly due to the fact that everyone was on some fucking vacation and sent ill-informed substitutes to do their job.

Los Angeles County prosecutors acknowledged Tuesday that they failed to inform a West Covina woman about a plea deal in December that allowed her estranged husband out of jail after he pleaded guilty to threatening her with a stun gun. The lapse is one of several decisions the district attorney's office is investigating after Curtis Bernard Harris, 34, kidnapped Monica Thomas-Harris, 37, and killed her before taking his own life over the weekend at a Whittier motel.

The prosecutor in the case agreed to Harris' release on his own recognizance so that he could get his affairs in order before reporting to prison for a 16-month sentence. The prosecutor advocated for the release even though Harris had an extensive criminal record and despite a report by the county Probation Department concluding that Harris was "unsuitable for release."

"What I know about this case is that there are elements that concern me given his conduct before his arrest," said Pamela K. Booth, a branch supervisor who oversees the district attorney's office in Pomona. "What I know so far is that he showed a pattern of escalating violence against the victim."

It is normal procedure for prosecutors to inform victims in domestic abuse cases beforehand if the defendant is going to be released from custody. But for reasons that investigators are still trying to determine, that didn't happen in this case. Rather, Thomas-Harris learned about her husband's release from unknown sources outside the courthouse. She came to court seeking help, with several witnesses saying she looked distraught. She met with prosecutor for 45 minutes, discussing whether she needed a "safety plan" and should stay at a shelter, Booth said.

Dist. Atty. Steve Cooley declined to comment specifically about the case. But in a statement, he said "the tragic murder of Monica Thomas-Harris is a matter of great concern," and that his office would seek to determine "whether there were any violations of office policy and/or failure to follow procedures established for these types of cases."

One of the key aspects of the district attorney's review will focus on the decision-making process that led to the plea deal, including why prosecutors did not do more to highlight -- and factor in -- Harris' background. The release was approved during a court hearing Dec. 21. The prosecutor, Deputy Dist. Atty. Samer Hathout, was sitting in for the original prosecutor, who was on vacation, Booth said. The judge, Tia Fisher, also was substituting for the case judge. Hathout cleared the plea deal and release with her supervisor in the Pomona office, Booth said. Investigators plan to take a hard look at whether officials in the district attorney's office could have postponed a decision on releasing Harris until the original prosecutor returned.

Another issue that will be examined is why prosecutors did not seek a criminal protective order against Harris that could have raised a possible red flag for those involved in the case, including the judge, Fisher, who accepted the plea deal. She heard 44 cases on the day that Harris was let out, said Superior Court spokesman Allan Parachini. He said the court accepted a "carefully negotiated plea agreement." It is not uncommon, and in general, judges believe that the process leading up to a plea agreement is thorough," Parachini said. "Typically, the terms of a plea agreement take into account the same issues the probation report examines, and typically a plea agreement would, in effect, trump a probation report."

Court records show that Harris had a felony criminal record dating to at least 1993, when he was convicted in San Bernardino County of discharging a firearm in a public place and served 16 months in prison. He and his wife were married in June 2001 and separated in October 2003, according to divorce papers filed in December 2005. About the same time as the divorce filing, Thomas-Harris and members of her extended family were granted a temporary restraining order against Harris after he allegedly threatened her and broke windows at her home.

Then, last November, Harris allegedly took his wife from a West Covina park and handcuffed her to furniture at a nearby hotel, according to West Covina police. She did not immediately report the incident, believing it would not happen again, police said. Two days later, Harris showed up at his wife's workplace in the City of Industry, took her inside his car, bound her with duct tape and threatened her with a stun gun, police said. She escaped and reported both incidents to police, leading to his arrest Nov. 19.

As part of the plea deal, Harris was supposed to stay away from his wife. They were found dead Saturday morning after a Whittier motel manager tried to enter a room and found it blocked by furniture, said Los Angeles County coroner's spokesman Craig Harvey. The manager was able to push the door slightly forward and spotted a woman lying on the floor bleeding from an apparent gunshot wound and called 911, Harvey said. Whittier police later determined that Harris had shot his estranged wife and then turned the gun on himself.

Booth said she would have to wait for a full accounting of the facts in the investigation before "determining the level of accountability we need to accept." But she added that the death has shaken all involved in the case. "They are looking in the mirror. What did I do? What could I have done differently. . . . These are all very dedicated people," she said.

 

[cloudy]

In most places, there is an "official" way that domestic violence cases are handled...that is, it's all very PC, and sounds great - on paper.

Then there's the way it's really handled.

The only thing about this case that's unusual is that the guy kidnapped then killed his ex. I guarantee you that if he'd beaten her again, he would've gotten yet another slap on the wrist, and turned loose again.

As far as protective orders go, you might as well take the paper one of those is printed on and wipe your ass with it. They're worse than useless because they make someone feel "protected," and they aren't, not even a little bit.

True story: back when, I called the cops against my husband. He had slammed me into a door so hard I honestly thought he'd broken my arm. I had to fight him off as I called the police, because he was trying to get the phone from me and break it, as he'd done before.

When he realized that I'd managed to get the situation reported, he grabbed a rifle and a pistol, and went out in the woods back behind the barn. I was left sitting scrunched in a corner, out of view of any of the windows in the house while the 911 operator stayed on the line with me until the cops got there.

I told them exactly where he was, told them about what had happened - my arm was by this time so swollen it hurt to wiggle a finger - told them about the guns he had with him.

Did they go get him and take him to jail? Of course not. What they said to me was (despite there being two cars and two trucks sitting in the drive), "We can give you a ride somewhere if you need one, but if you don't need a ride, we're going to go on. Call us if he shows back up."

No shit. Bunch of dipshit macho men that see nothing wrong with "knocking a little sense into your woman."

Nothing's changed. Women are still getting beat up, raped, killed, etc., just like they've always been.

 

[sereneone4u]

In most places, there is an "official" way that domestic violence cases are handled...that is, it's all very PC, and sounds great - on paper.

Then there's the way it's really handled.

The only thing about this case that's unusual is that the guy kidnapped then killed his ex. I guarantee you that if he'd beaten her again, he would've gotten yet another slap on the wrist, and turned loose again.

As far as protective orders go, you might as well take the paper one of those is printed on and wipe your ass with it. They're worse than useless because they make someone feel "protected," and they aren't, not even a little bit.

True story: back when, I called the cops against my husband. He had slammed me into a door so hard I honestly thought he'd broken my arm. I had to fight him off as I called the police, because he was trying to get the phone from me and break it, as he'd done before.

When he realized that I'd managed to get the situation reported, he grabbed a rifle and a pistol, and went out in the woods back behind the barn. I was left sitting scrunched in a corner, out of view of any of the windows in the house while the 911 operator stayed on the line with me until the cops got there.

I told them exactly where he was, told them about what had happened - my arm was by this time so swollen it hurt to wiggle a finger - told them about the guns he had with him.

Did they go get him and take him to jail? Of course not. What they said to me was (despite there being two cars and two trucks sitting in the drive), "We can give you a ride somewhere if you need one, but if you don't need a ride, we're going to go on. Call us if he shows back up."

No shit. Bunch of dipshit macho men that see nothing wrong with "knocking a little sense into your woman."

Nothing's changed. Women are still getting beat up, raped, killed, etc., just like they've always been.

God's honest truth

I was told that I was not allowed to press charges because he was my husband...I was very pregnant with tennis shoe imprints on my body from him kicking me and on another occassion, that I was not allowed to press charges because it was a Sunday as I sat there with a busted nose and blood running down my face. First marraige as a young girl, not now.

 

[cloudy]

God's honest truth

I was told that I was not allowed to press charges because he was my husband...I was very pregnant with tennis shoe imprints on my body from him kicking me and on another occassion, that I was not allowed to press charges because it was a Sunday as I sat there with a busted nose and blood running down my face. First marraige as a young girl, not now.

Much of the reason a lot of women don't bother to press charges is that they know the guy's gonna get out of jail the next morning, and now he's PISSED.

Cops don't protect you - they don't give a shit. Laws don't protect you. There is NO protection. A determined man will find you. Most who haven't been in that situation tend to think something along the lines of: "Why didn't the stupid bitch press charges? She must like being beat up."

Couldn't be farther from the truth. It's simply self-preservation, because you know that when it comes to your spouse beating you, you're completely on your own. There is NO help.

 

[starrkers]

The only reason for pressing charges is to get a head start. Pack while he's locked up and leave. Go a long way away.
But that generally takes preparation, and it's a bit hard to prepare for something without knowing a time frame - will he go nuts tonight or not till next week?

 

[sereneone4u]

The only reason for pressing charges is to get a head start. Pack while he's locked up and leave. Go a long way away.
But that generally takes preparation, and it's a bit hard to prepare for something without knowing a time frame - will he go nuts tonight or not till next week?

Headstart? How when you are kept isolated and without money? A woman is never in more danger than when she leaves the abuser. People love to blame the victim..."why does she stay? She must like it"...it is not that GD simple. You are either part of the problem or part of the solution.

(not directed at you starrkers)

 

[sereneone4u]

Much of the reason a lot of women don't bother to press charges is that they know the guy's gonna get out of jail the next morning, and now he's PISSED.

Cops don't protect you - they don't give a shit. Laws don't protect you. There is NO protection. A determined man will find you. Most who haven't been in that situation tend to think something along the lines of: "Why didn't the stupid bitch press charges? She must like being beat up."

Couldn't be farther from the truth. It's simply self-preservation, because you know that when it comes to your spouse beating you, you're completely on your own. There is NO help.

So very TRUE.

 

[starrkers]

Headstart? How when you are kept isolated and without money? A woman is never in more danger than when she leaves the abuser. People love to blame the victim..."why does she stay? She must like it"...it is not that GD simple. You are either part of the problem or part of the solution.

(not directed at you starrkers)

That's why I said it takes preparation.

 

[sereneone4u]

That's why I said it takes preparation.

Again, when you are kept isolated and without money and so many other factors there is no preparation.

In some cases women are able to do it, but I do not want people using "oh they need to prepare," as an excuse to yet again blame the victim. It is not that simple, nothing ever is.

again, not directed at you...very raw subject with me.

 

[sr71plt]

So, who picked these men in the first place--and why?

 

[cloudy]

So, who picked these men in the first place--and why?

deleted.

Take your venom elsewhere, Mr. Holier-than-thou.

You make me nauseous.

 

[sereneone4u]

So, who picked these men in the first place--and why?

Blame the victim.

Go fuck yourself.

Nothing gives anyone the right to abuse another person.

 

[Stella_Omega]

So, who picked these men in the first place--and why?

You aren't going to blame her murder on her, are you?

 

[starrkers]

eta answering serene - didn't see the goon squad arrive.

No, it isn't. But I'd like women to think that it's not impossible, rather than waiting to go out in a hospital gurney or a coffin.

It's a pretty damn sore point with me too, but I refuse to validate the "I can't leave, he'll kill me" thoughts. I prefer to focus on the "How do I leave so he can't get to me" choices. And they DO exist.

 

[sr71plt]

You aren't going to blame her murder on her, are you?

I wasn't referring to the article. I didn't read it. But that women pick abusive men, yes, I don't think the decision there is a one-way street or demonstrates brilliance on the part of the woman.

Every time I've looked into a "He done me wrong, let's you and me castrate him" story, I find enough garbage on both sides of the equation to choke a horse.

 

[sereneone4u]

I wasn't referring to the article. I didn't read it. But that women pick abusive men, yes, I don't think the decision there is a one-way street or demonstrates brilliance on the part of the woman.

Every time I've looked into a "He done me wrong, let's you and me castrate him" story, I find enough garbage on both sides of the equation to choke a horse.

That is such crap and you know it.

NOTHING gives another person the right to abuse another..NOTHING.

I and other women did NOTHING to deserve being treated that way.

I am married again for almost 14 years and there is NO violence in our relationship at all.

The only garbage is YOU, yourself.

 

[sereneone4u]

eta answering serene - didn't see the goon squad arrive.

No, it isn't. But I'd like women to think that it's not impossible, rather than waiting to go out in a hospital gurney or a coffin.

It's a pretty damn sore point with me too, but I refuse to validate the "I can't leave, he'll kill me" thoughts. I prefer to focus on the "How do I leave so he can't get to me" choices. And they DO exist.

I totally agree, I do not want women to feel helpless and "just take it." It is sort of a double edged sword, sadly.

 

[NorCalGirl]

Even though it may be pointless

So, who picked these men in the first place--and why?

I'd like to point out that abusers do not start off full bore when they meet someone. Often, they are extremely charming. It's like a bait and switch tactic almost.

And it usually starts out with verbal put-downs, little "jokes" that hurt, telling the woman not to be so sensitive, it's only a joke, can't you take a joke?

Then the verbal abuse escalates. Then maybe a shove here and there. Then a harder shove, a pinch, a slap. It happens gradually.

You know what, fuck it. I don't even want to try to explain how it happens - the fact is, it does and it's tragic and wrong, and the police are of little to zero help.

 

[mellowgyrl]

So, who picked these men in the first place--and why?

I know that you can't believe that every battered woman went out looking for the most abusive man she could find. How many times does the public have to be told DON'T BLAME THE VICTIM?? Abused women didn't ask for the abuse, didn't go looking for the abuse, and don't want to stay being abused. It's an insult and completely absurd for you to accuse the woman of picking an abusive spouse/boyfriend.

 

[mellowgyrl]

I wasn't referring to the article. I didn't read it. But that women pick abusive men, yes, I don't think the decision there is a one-way street or demonstrates brilliance on the part of the woman.

Every time I've looked into a "He done me wrong, let's you and me castrate him" story, I find enough garbage on both sides of the equation to choke a horse.

That is the biggest load of crap I've ever seen you write. You profess to be brilliant yet, your comments prove otherwise. Its easy for you to blame the victim rather than blame the asshole who is beating the tar out of her isn't it? 'She chose him so she deserves the ass beating.'??? Are you serious?? You can honestly look at yourself in the mirror and believe that? If you can, then I seriously pray for every female relative you have.

 

[sr71plt]

That is such crap and you know it.

NOTHING gives another person the right to abuse another..NOTHING.

I and other women did NOTHING to deserve being treated that way.

I am married again for almost 14 years and there is NO violence in our relationship at all.

The only garbage is YOU, yourself.

Sorry, I don't know it. Most of the women I see making this sort of pick in the first place had their attention somewhere else other than their brain and/or weren't the pointiest arrow in the quiver (I say most, because I've seen some who were cornered into it, but mostly because they were stuck in the dregs of society to begin with). This often goes hand in glove with the great female assumption that "I'll redecorate him later."

What you picked the second time is irrelevant to what you picked the first time (except for maybe getting smarter in hindsight).

I know ya'll will rail back at this, but I cry in no beer over it except for the few who are willing to accept some responsibility for their pick and don't indulge in the great Internet chat board game of "He done me wrong; let's you and me castrate him." There rarely is just one side to these stories. But the Internet is a great place to wallow in it, because people are happy to believe everything they hear from one side.

 

[sr71plt]

You profess to be brilliant

Lord, no, I've never professed that.

And I'm not the least surprised at the response. The "He done me wrong; let's you and me castrate him" is one of the most popular and emotion-laden games in the Internet chat room world. Wallowing in it might be the number one reason posters turn to Internet chat rooms to begin with.

 

[mellowgyrl]

Sorry, I don't know it. Most of the women I see making this sort of pick in the first place had their attention somewhere else other than their brain and/or weren't the pointiest arrow in the quiver (I say most, because I've seen some who were cornered into it, but mostly because they were stuck in the dregs of society to begin with). This often goes hand in glove with the great female assumption that "I'll redecorate him later."

What you picked the second time is irrelevant to what you picked the first time (except for maybe getting smarter in hindsight).

I know ya'll will rail back at this, but I cry in no beer over it except for the few who are willing to accept some responsibility for their pick and don't indulge in the great Internet chat board game of "He done me wrong; let's you and me castrate him." There rarely is just one side to these stories. But the Internet is a great place to wallow in it, because people are happy to believe everything they hear from one side.

One side of the story? Honestly....that's your excuse? Its one side of the story? Well lets see...a man w/a history of beating his wife is released on his own recognizance...kidnaps his wife....kills her and kills himself... Hmmm...I can see where you'd want to know the asshole husband's side of the story but unfortunately the prick killed himself. Now, we all wouldn't be mourning him if he had only done himself in. But the selfish bastard had the nerve to take his wife with him.

There's never a need for the other side of the story when a man abuses his wife (you know, the person he's vowed to love, honor and cherish). If you have to resort to beating the tar out of somebody don't you think you just just leave them first? Or seek counseling? Oh yeah, I forgot, you think its smarter to blame the victim....oh wise one!

 

[mellowgyrl]

Lord, no, I've never professed that.

And I'm not the least surprised at the response. The "He done me wrong; let's you and me castrate him" is one of the most popular and emotion-laden games in the Internet chat room world. Wallowing in it might be the number one reason posters turn to Internet chat rooms to begin with.

So instead of replying with something original you repeat the same triad over and over?

 

[sr71plt]

One side of the story? Honestly....that's your excuse? Its one side of the story? Well lets see...a man w/a history of beating his wife is released on his own recognizance...kidnaps his wife....kills her and kills himself... Hmmm...I can see where you'd want to know the asshole husband's side of the story but unfortunately the prick killed himself. Now, we all wouldn't be mourning him if he had only done himself in. But the selfish bastard had the nerve to take his wife with him.

There's never a need for the other side of the story when a man abuses his wife (you know, the person he's vowed to love, honor and cherish). If you have to resort to beating the tar out of somebody don't you think you just just leave them first? Or seek counseling? Oh yeah, I forgot, you think its smarter to blame the victim....oh wise one!

I did already say that my reaction wasn't to the article (which I haven't read) but was to the perennial startup of the "He done me wrong; let's you and me castrate him" game that followed.

I don't see, however, why my "who picked him and why" question doesn't hold.

I do quite agree that once into the spiral down in domestic violence, the legal system is wholly inadequate to prevent much of anything.